Wits slump to new low in home loss to Chippa

by Graeme Jackson

Wednesday Nov 01, 2017. 21:36

Bidvest Wits continue to look a shadow of the team which won the Absa Premiership last season, as they slumped to a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Chippa United on Wednesday night.

Samuel Julies came off the bench to score his first league goals since 2012 and inspire the Chilli Boys to their first away win of the season, while the Clever Boys have now suffered five defeats from just nine matches thus far.

Chippa nearly claimed the lead as early as the fourth minute, as a scramble in the penalty area after a mistake from Darren Keet ended with James Okwuosa stabbing a shot which hit the underside of the crossbar.

That proved to be the only attacking highlight of an otherwise cagey first half. Wits dominated possession and created a few promising moments thanks to the class of their wide-men Elias Pelembe and Daine Klate, but they couldn’t quite service strikers Vincent Pule and Amr Gamal.

Chippa, meanwhile, looked sporadically dangerous on the counter attack, but they were unwilling to commit too many men forward for fear of being caught short at the back by the reigning league champions.

The second half saw the Clever Boys continue to be the more positive and enterprising team, and coach Gavin Hunt looked to add a little creativity to the mix when he introduced veteran playmaker Steven Pienaar just after the hour mark.

On 75 minutes Chippa’s Daniel Akpeyi needed Okwuosa to bail him out by clearing the ball off the line after the goalkeeper dropped a simple cross, while seconds later substitute Samuel Julies shot wide after being beautifully set up by a through ball from Paseka Mako.

Yet just two minutes later Julies made up for his error by striking home a low shot after more good work from Mako, putting the Chilli Boys into a lead which was very much against the general run of play.

And things got even better for Julies in the 85th minute when he scored a ‘goal of the season’ contender, whipping a left-footed curler into the top corner of the net to make it 2-0 and wrap up the three points for the Eastern Cape side.

Bidvest Wits 0
Chippa United (0) 2 (Julies 77’ 85’)

Wits: Keet, Allie, Khumalo, Hlatshwayo, Hlanti, Pelembe (Keene 82’), Scott, Mlambo (Pienaar 63’), Klate, Pule (Phiri 75’), Gamal

Chippa: Akpeyi, Macheke, Okwuosa, Bergman, Maphanga, Mvelase (Mbenyane 58’), Mabaso, Lentjies (Julies 64’), Mdlinzo, Mako, Sekola (Mbokoma 82’)