Rospa United suffered another embarrassing defeat when Baroka FC beat them 2-0 at a packed Tshifulanani Stadium on Sunday.

It was a physical game, with both sides displaying entertaining football.

The technical staff of Rospa United had to come up with a creative solution, after they lost their midfielder-cum-striker, Happy Mahuntsi, through a knee injury. Rospa seemed to have blundered by leaving out their slender striker, Mduduzi Skhakhane, from the starting line-up.

Baroka’s keeper, Veli Mothwa, denied United what everybody thought was an obvious goal. Kulani Madlalathi of United made an attempt from outside the box in the 25th minute. Mothwa sprang like a well-oiled machine and executed a brilliant save. The former defender of Vhembe FC, Blose Vuyisa, was a marvel to watch. Vuyisa was everywhere, distributing some dangerous passes to the frontrunners when it mattered most.

The visitors from Lebowakgomo broke the ice in the 37th minute. Their diminutive striker, Kutumela Hlabane, caught the United keeper, Mxolisi Ncube, off guard and blasted in a rocket from the far left corner.

United replaced Kennedy Shirinda with Mduduzi Skhakhane early in the last half. Skhakhane combined well with Eustice Manenzhe and Kulani Madlalathi at the forefront, but they could not find their way through the defence of Baroka. The visitors scored the second goal in the 79th minute. Katlekgo Kubiana unleashed a groundcutter that was too hot for the United keeper to handle.