The Absa Premiership race is right back on again after Bidvest Wits flexed their impressive player muscle to outplay Orlando Pirates 1-0 at Bidvest Stadium and close the gap on Mamelodi Sundowns to four points.
With Downs suffering the shock result of the season, losing 3-1 against struggling Bloemfontein Celtic in Atteridgeville, James Keene’s 29th-minute winner brought second-placed Wits back in striking distance of the PSL leaders.
Wet weather could not keep a capacity crowd from filling little Bidvest Stadium for what was billed as a cracker of a match.
And this was a quality, at times physical, at others fast-paced and attacking, clash on a wet field.
It says something for the team Gavin Hunt and his management – led by a CEO in Jose Ferreira, who the coach teamed up with for league titles from 2008 to 2010 at SuperSport United – have assembled at Wits that they could edge out Pirates with a robust, organised and measured display.
And this a Bucs team who had come into the game on the back of four league and cup wins in succession.
Wits matched Pirates blow for blow in the first half, earning a crucial goal. The Students spoiled and toiled their way to defending that lead in the second.
Hunt had his big guns back from the second-string side that suffered the debacle of a 3-0 home defeat to Tanzanians Azam in the Caf Confederation Cup on Saturday.
Daine Klate also returned from suspension from the 1-0 away league win against Polokwane City before that. Slotting into in a front-line that included Keene, Jabulani Shongwe and Elias Pelembe, in front of Phumlani Ntshangase and Ben Motswari in midfield, it was a Wits line-up that had a formidable look to it.
As did Pirates, for whom coach Eric Tinkler made one change from their 5-0 thrashing of Jomo Cosmos on Saturday, Issa Sarr returning from suspension for Lehlogonolo Masalesa.
The first half was end to end.
Pelembe forced a save off Brighton Mhlongo’s legs, then Bucs could have opened the scoring. In a sweeping counter-attack Thabo Qalinge was released by Mhlongo’s throw down the left, the ball worked via Sifiso Myeni to Luvuyo Memela free on the right, whose shot rolled onto the left upright.
Wits took the lead when the Pirates defence could not clear Pelembe’s cross from the left, the ball falling to Keene to scramble in a poacher’s finish for his ninth in all competitions. Memela teed up Mpho Makhola for a shot at Josephs in the opening seconds of the second half.
Clever Boys pull off fine 1-0 win over the Buccaneers
With Downs suffering the shock result of the season, losing 3-1 against struggling Bloemfontein Celtic in Atteridgeville, James Keene’s 29th-minute winner brought second-placed Wits back in striking distance of the PSL leaders.
Wet weather could not keep a capacity crowd from filling little Bidvest Stadium for what was billed as a cracker of a match.
And this was a quality, at times physical, at others fast-paced and attacking, clash on a wet field.
It says something for the team Gavin Hunt and his management – led by a CEO in Jose Ferreira, who the coach teamed up with for league titles from 2008 to 2010 at SuperSport United – have assembled at Wits that they could edge out Pirates with a robust, organised and measured display.
And this a Bucs team who had come into the game on the back of four league and cup wins in succession.
Wits matched Pirates blow for blow in the first half, earning a crucial goal. The Students spoiled and toiled their way to defending that lead in the second.
Hunt had his big guns back from the second-string side that suffered the debacle of a 3-0 home defeat to Tanzanians Azam in the Caf Confederation Cup on Saturday.
Daine Klate also returned from suspension from the 1-0 away league win against Polokwane City before that. Slotting into in a front-line that included Keene, Jabulani Shongwe and Elias Pelembe, in front of Phumlani Ntshangase and Ben Motswari in midfield, it was a Wits line-up that had a formidable look to it.
As did Pirates, for whom coach Eric Tinkler made one change from their 5-0 thrashing of Jomo Cosmos on Saturday, Issa Sarr returning from suspension for Lehlogonolo Masalesa.
The first half was end to end.
Pelembe forced a save off Brighton Mhlongo’s legs, then Bucs could have opened the scoring. In a sweeping counter-attack Thabo Qalinge was released by Mhlongo’s throw down the left, the ball worked via Sifiso Myeni to Luvuyo Memela free on the right, whose shot rolled onto the left upright.
Wits took the lead when the Pirates defence could not clear Pelembe’s cross from the left, the ball falling to Keene to scramble in a poacher’s finish for his ninth in all competitions. Memela teed up Mpho Makhola for a shot at Josephs in the opening seconds of the second half.
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