SuperSport suffer heavy defeat against Wits

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Saturday Jan 27, 2018. 20:14

SuperSport United suffered a 4-1 defeat against Bidvest Wits in the Absa Premiership on Saturday evening at Lucas Moripe Stadium.

Although they netted first through Dean Furman, the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup finalists now sit at the 13th spot with 21 points.

On the other hand, Frank Mhango, James Keene, Daylon Claasen and Thulani Hlatshwayo all scored for the visitors.

SuperSport had an upper hand in the beginning when it comes to ball possession, but could not test Darren Keet in the first eight minutes.

In their swift response, Wits reacted on a loose ball and Sifiso Hlanti saw his thunderous shot from range narrowly missing the left corner of Riyaad Pieterse’s goals.

However, it was Eric Tinkler’s team that were awarded a penalty when Hlatshwayo handed the ball in the box and the referee pointed to the spot.

United skipper Dean Furman netted in the 22nd minute with a low shot, beating Keet who guessed correctly to his right.

Although the Clever Boys showed signs of getting an equaliser, they could not find cracks in the solid Amatsantsantsa defence; 1-0 was the scoreline at the interval.

Upon their emergence from the tunnel, Keet was rescued by his crossbar after Kingston Nkhatha unleashed a long-range effort.

Gavin Hunt introduced Mhango at half time and the Malawian levelled matters with three minutes into the second half as he capitalised on United’s error to beat Pieterse from close range.

Wits regained their confidence and made it 2-1 when Keene beat Pieterse with a powerful header on his right corner in the 53rd minute.

It was not raining, but pouring for the hosts in the 64th minute, as Claasen left Pieterse with no chance from a long range stunner resulting from Mhango's assist.

Four minutes later, United came close to making it 3-2 when Aubrey Modiba’s attempt hit the crossbar in what looked to be a cross rather than a shot at goal.

With three minutes to wrap up the thrilling encounter, Hlatshwayo found the back of the net, making it 4-1 with a powerful header from Sifiso Myeni’s cross.

Thuso Phala broke free in the injury time, outpacing Denis Weidlich, yet his low driven shot could not trouble Keet.

In the wake of their second win over Tinkler's men, Wits now sit at number 12 with 21 points from 19 games in their season.

SuperSport United (1) 1 (Furman 22’ pen)
Bidvest Wits (0) 4 (Mhango 48’, Keene 53’, Claasen 64’, Hlatshwayo 87’)

SuperSport United: Pieterse, Kekana, Gould, Farmer, Boateng (Nhlapo 72’), Furman, Letsholonyane (Mbule 66’), Mokoena (Ngele 60’), Phala, Modiba, Nkhatha

Bidvest Wits: Keet, Hlatshwayo, Khumalo, Pule, Hlanti, Claasen, Myeni, Gyimah (Monare 64’), Keene (Mncwango 89’), Majoro (Mhango 45’), Weidlich