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Cape Town - Mxolisi Kunene's second-half goal proved the difference as Maritzburg made it back-to-back wins for the first time this season with a 1-0 triumph over Baroka at the Harry Gwala Stadium.
Eric Tinkler's side ended their five-match winless streak last time out as they clinched a 1-0 win over Chippa United in Pietermaritzburg, with Thabiso Kutumela's strike securing a valuable three points.
However, they would have expected a tough test on Wednesday evening as Baroka headed into the clash with cause for optimism after pushing league leaders Kaizer chiefs all the way in a 1-0 defeat at FNB Stadium.
And, for the opening 30 minutes, it was clear that Bakgaga would once again prove to be a tough nut to crack.
Maritzburg eventually managed to stamp their mark on proceedings deep into the first half and twice went close to breaking the deadlock as Kunene saw his close-range effort deflected behind for a corner, and Rushine De Reuck heading just over from the resulting corner.
The hosts eventually got the breakthrough they were looking for after the break, however, as Kunene latched onto a neat pass from Kutumela before seeing his right-footed shot make its way into the bottom-right corner with the help of a wicked deflection.
Kunene very nearly doubled his tally in the 65th minute but Elvis Chipezeze was quickly off his line to snuff out the danger.
Maritzburg had another great chance to snatch a second ten minutes later after Kutumela laid the ball off to Judas Moseamedi, but the substitute somehow failed to find the target from just six yards out.
That missed chance did not come back to haunt the home side, though, as they managed to hold firm in the closing stages of the contest to record their second win of the Premiership campaign.
- TeamTalk Media
