In a tight match, the home side netted first through Ethan Sampson just before half time, before Judas Moseamedi levelled things up in the 49th minute, only for the hosts to score right at the end of regulation time.
In what was a lively and end-to-end first half, the home side had the early chances, with Gerald Phiri Jr shooting wide from the edge of the box before Maritzburg keeper Richard Ofori did brilliantly to come flying off his line to deny Ranga Chivaviro.
The Team of Choice’s first clear chance on goal came in the 15th minute when Pogiso Sanoka threaded a superb ball in to the back post for Mxolisi Kunene, but from a tight angle his shot was blocked by home keeper Elvis Chipezeze.
Chances were then exchanged around the half hour mark as Chivaviro headed over the bar before Moseamedi’s near-post flick was kept out by Chipezeze.
The KwaZulu-Natal club also had a good opportunity in the 39th minute when Gabriel Nyoni’s superb cross-field ball located Keegan Buchanan, but from 18-yards out he shot well wide.
Instead it was the hosts who were to draw first blood, just a couple of minutes before the interval when Sampson poked the ball over the line after the Maritzburg defence had failed to clear a corner kick.
Bakgaga also threatened just after the restart through Chivaviro, who was kept out by Ofori.
Soon after though, Maritzburg were awarded a free kick. Substitute Yusuf Jappie fired it into the defensive wall, with the ball rebounding into the air before Moseamedi won the initial aerial challenge against a defender and then bravely beat Chipezeze to the ball to head it into an empty net.
There was then a lengthy stoppage to play as Chipezeze received medical attention after hurting himself in the challenge with Moseamedi, who had legitimately won the ball.
Moments after the restart and Ofori was called into action and he did outstandingly to make a double save to stop the home team from regaining their lead.
At the other end, Buchanan went close with a curling effort from outside the box before Jappie fired an effort wide.
The game was now there for the taking, and the hosts had a chance on 82 minutes through Phiri, but he miscued from a decent position.
Maritzburg had some good moments but never really created any clear chances, and instead they suffered an 89th minute sucker-punch when Bakgaga counter-attacked before launching a long ball forward to Tshediso Patjie, who ran in on goal and showed good composure to beat Ofori.
The Team of Choice looked to hit back and were close to equalising in the 95th minute when Rushine De Reuck’s header was acrobatically saved by Ayanda Dlamini.
Moseamedi also had an effort, but hit it straight at Dlamini as United had to leave the Limpopo Province empty handed.
TEAMS
Baroka: Chipezeze , Farmer, Kgoetyane, Sampson, Phiri, Mosele, Maloka, Ngubane, Gerbhardt, Masiya, Chivaviro
Subs: Dlamini, Kampala, Makume, Nxumalo, Mgaga, Makgaka, Patjie,
Maritzburg: Ofori, Morgan, Sanoka, Nyoni, De Reuk, Allie, Kunene, Timm, Buchanan, Claasen, Moseamedi
Subs: Mpandle, Mngonyama, Ntshangase, Augusto, Jappie, Shandu, Kutumela,
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