Absa Premiership Champions continued to struggle

by Brian Lee

Saturday Nov 25, 2017. 18:00

Defending Absa Premiership champions Bidvest Wits continue to struggle in the league after playing to a goalless draw against Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The result continues to see Wits hover in around the relegation zone where they temporarily occupy 14th place with nine points from 11 games, only a point above 15th place Ajax Cape Town (who have played nine games) and last placed Platinum Stars.

The first half really failed to produce any fireworks with chances on goal few and far between.

Both teams were poor in the final third and often gifted possession back to their opponents with horrible passing or bad decision making.

The only significant chance of the half went the way of Maritzburg in the 22nd minute when Bevan Fransman met a cross with a strong header, but his effort came off the crossbar.

That was about as exciting as it got in the opening half as the teams entered the break locked at 0-0.

Martizburg started the second half positively and came close to scoring two minutes in when Yazid Atouba met a loose clearance with a powerful 18-yard volley, but Darren Keet made a spectacular save to deny him.

The next chance on goal only came in the 68th minute when Wits’ Eleazar Rodgers rose highest to meet a pin-point cross, but his header came off the woodwork.

Both teams pushed players forward in the final 20 minutes of the match, but they were both poor in the final third yet again and unable to create scoring chances.

The match ended 0-0 with the result seeing Maritzburg temporarily up to 11th place with 11 points after ten games.

Maritzburg United (0) 0
Bidvest Wits (0) 0

Teams

Maritzburg: Ofori, Sanoka, Xulu, Fransman, Shandu, Rusike (Ntshangase 80’), Weidlich, Kunene (Mokate 71’), Atouba (Maboe 73’), Ndlovu, Mekoa.

Wits: Keet, Allie, Hlatshwayo, Klate (Claasen 75’), Monare, Rodgers (Keene 87’), Hlanti, Mkhwanazi, Pienaar (Pule 61’), Phiri, Ntshangase.