Richards Bay ended Baroka FC’s quest for a DStv Premiership return with a thumping 4-0 victory in the final match of the PSL Promotion/Playoffs at the King Zwelithini Stadium in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday afternoon.
Sanele Barns had a chance to hand the Natal Rich Boyz a third-minute lead though the Stellenbosch FC-bound playmaker scuffed his shot, failing to find the target.
In the ninth minute, Bafana Bafana striker Yanela Mbuthuma forced Katlego Molefe into a top-draw one-handed save.
Bakgakga twice in quick succession failed to take advantage of Bay’s erroneous defending in the 24th minute. Siyabonga Mtombeni missed an open net before Kabelo Kgosietsile skied his follow-up shot from close range.
On the 26th-minute mark, Thato Mohlamme, son of Orlando Pirates legend Benedict ‘Tso’ Vilakazi, missed a glorious sitter – sending his shot into the stands.
Richards Bay’s resilience paid off in the 37th minute as Somila Ntsundwana, with his second goal of the playoffs, connected well with Mbuthuma in the Baroka box before firing an overhead kick past Molefe, much to wild cheers from the home fans.
It was 2-0 in the 43rd minute. Barns with a well-taken free-kick from outside the box as Bay took the two-goal advantage into the break.
Baroka took the game to the hosts, coming close to finding a consolation through Ananias Gebhardt in the 52nd minute but the Namibian international could not get his shot on target.
It should’ve been game, set, and match for Moses Mthembu in the 59th minute but his lace technique let him down as his effort sailed inches wide.
Ntsundwana bagged his brace in the 62nd minute, beating Matome Mathiane for pace before firing past an on-rushing Molefe to make it 3-0 for Vusumuzi Vilakazi’s charges.
Substitute Justice Figareido should have made it 4-0 in the 80th minute, only for Molefe’s stretched-out foot to deny him.
Lwandile Mabuya did however put the match beyond bed with the easiest of tap-ins to make it 4-0 in the 85th minute, and all but secure his side’s topflight status ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
