Cape Town - Highlands Park claimed their second league win of the season with a 2-1 victory over Baroka at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday.
Highlands carved out the first decent opportunity of the game in the fifth minute. Mothobi Mvala played the ball over the top of the Baroka defence for Peter Shalulile, whose first-time left footed volley towards the left-hand corner was well pushed away by a diving Elvis Chipezeze.
The Lions of the North were dominating the opening exchanges and came close again four minutes later when Shalulile found space in behind the Bakgaga defence for the second time in quick succession and took the ball past an outcoming Chipezeze, but his touch was a bit too heavy and allowed the defence to get back in time and thwart the danger.
The hosts began to see gradually more and more possession and had their first decent attempt on goal in the 22nd minute when Gerald Phiri Jr showed his long-range shooting ability with a fierce drive from 35 yards out that went narrowly over the crossbar.
On the hour mark, Mvala and Shalulile combined once again as the latter struck a fierce half-volley towards goal but unfortunateli it was straight at Chipezeze, who in the end made a fairly routine save.
Soon after, the hosts responded by testing Thela Ngobeni in the Highlands goal. The ball was played in to the feet of Tshidiso Patjie in the box, who turned his marker and let fly at goal all in one motion but the effort was straight at Ngobeni.
The visitors deservedly took the lead in the 65th minute. Moketi Mogaila played a wonderful long-range through-ball for Shalulile down the inside right-hand channel, with the Namibian international blasting the ball past a helpless Chipezeze at his near post.
Owen da Gama's side doubled their lead in the 74th minute. Lindokuhle Mbatha got to the byline on the right-hand side and delivered a peach of a ball in to the box which Shalulile headed home with aplomb for his brace.
Baroka pulled a goal back in the 77th minute when Collins Makgaga curled a stunning free-kick in to the top left-hand corner, with Ngobeni guilty of placing his wall incorrectly.
Highlands came close on more than occasion to getting their third in the final ten minutes, but in the end the Lions of the North came away with the three points regardless.