Mkhwanazi fires Wits into top 8

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Tuesday Apr 03, 2018. 21:56

Bidvest Wits overcame Maritzburg United 2-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the Bidvest Stadium on Tuesday night.

The victory took the Clever Boys to eighth place on the league standings, while the Team of Choice remained third on the table.

The Clever Boys were the better side in the opening stages of the game and their shot-stopper Richard Ofori was the busier of the two goalkeepers.

The Ghana international gathered Reeve Frosler's cross, before denying Elias Pelembe within the first 10 minutes of the game.

However, Ofori was beaten by Keegan Ritchie, who scored with a thunderous effort from a well-taken free-kick to make it 1-0 to Wits in the 15th minute.

Pelembe was looking lively for Clever Boys - causing havoc for the Team of Choice's defence with his skill and pace.

The Mozambique international did well to pick out his team-mate Lehlohonolo Majoro in the Maritzburg area with a cross from deep just after the half-hour mark.

Majoro connected with the cross, but the well-travelled player header wide of the mark without troubling Ofori.

Ofori was then forced to deny Majoro twice within two minutes just before the half-time break as the hosts pushed for their second goal.

The score was 1-0 to Wits at the interval following a first-half which was dominated by the hosts.

The Team of Choice started the second-half brightly with Andrea Fileccia looking to keep the Clever Boys defence busy.

Gavin Hunt, Wits coach, reacted by pulling out James Keene, who had a quiet first-half, and he introduced Vincent Phiri in the 56th minute.

Pule did well down the left-hand side in the 71st minute and he played a hard cross across the face of goal, and Ofori made a good interception.

However, it was Maritzburg striker Mohau Mokate, who proved to be a super-sub as he scored to make it 1-1 in the 78th minute against the run of play.

Wits then pushed forward in numbers and they managed to restore their lead when Buhle Mkhwanazi headed home from a well worked corner to make it 2-1 with six minutes left.

The hosts then held on to their slender lead in the closing stages of the game and ultimately, Wits secured a 2-1 win over Maritzburg.

Wits (1) 2 (Ritchie 15' Mkhwanazi 84')
Maritzburg (0) 1 (Mokate 78')

Wits: Keet, Hlatshwayo, Hlanti, Mkhwanazi, Ritchie (Motshwari 82'), Frosler, Scott,Alexander, Pelembe, Keene (Phiri 56'), Majoro (Rodgers 66').

Maritzburg: Ofori, Fransman, Xulu (Mokate 46'), Shandu, De Reuck, Maboe, Ndlovu, Sanoka, Matima (Atouba 87'), Fileccia (McDonald 61'), Kunene.