Phumlani Ntshangase of Bidvest Wits challenged by Bongi Ntuli of Platinum Stars during the Absa Premiership 2017/18 football match between Bidvest Wits and Platinum Stars at Bidvest Stadium, Johannesburg on 16 December 2017 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
by
Phumzile Ngcatshe
Saturday Dec 16, 2017. 22:38
Bidvest Wits dismal Absa Premiership season continued as they lost 1-0 to Platinum Stars at Bidvest Stadium on Saturday night.
The loss for coach Gavin Hunt's men sees them languishing at the bottom of the table with 11 points from 15 games.The defending champions have suffered seven defeats.
For Dikwena, an early goal through from Robert Ng’ambi gave the Phokeng-based outfit something to smile about heading into the Christmas break as the climbed out of the relegation zone.
he hosts had the upper hand in the opening exchanges as they kept pressure on Dikwena, yet the visitors remained resolute in defence.
A perfect opportunity fell to Frank Mhango in the 13th minute, but the Malawian missed from inside the area after a neat header into his path by Thulani Hlatshwayo.
Four minutes later, Stars grabbed the lead when Ng’ambi found the back of the net with a towering header from a corner-kick to give the visitors the lead against the run of play.
The hosts came close to pulling level just after the half-hour mark as Thabang Monare saw his effort canon off the woodwork following a period of sustained pressure.
Stars, though, did just about enough to hold a 1-0 lead at the break.
With 12 minutes to go, Eleazar Rodgers had a great chance to make it 1-1 when he got on the end of a pin-point cross, but his resulting header went wide of the target.
With the hosts pushing for a goal, substitute Amr Gamal also came close to finding the back of the net, but his attempt also failed to hit the target.
Gavin Hunt's men continued to go in search of the equalizer, but it was not to be as the defending champions end 2017 at the bottom of the log standings.
Bidvest Wits: (0)
Platinum Stars: (1) 1 (Ng’ambi 17’)
Bidvest Wits: Keet, Hlatshwayo, Monare, Classen (Phiri Jr 46’), Ntshangase, Mkhwanazi, Rodgers, Frosler, Mhango (Gamal 46’), Klate (Keene 76’), Hlanti
Platinum Stars: Visser, Mnguni, Sithole, Mthethwa, Zulu, Mere, Masalesa, Msomi (Mkhabela 90’), Ng'ambi, Nyanda (De Jongh 61’), Ntuli (Matlakala 83’)
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