Keegan Ritchie of Bidvest Wits celebrates goal with teammates during the Absa Premiership 2018/19 match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits at Lucas Moripe Stadium, Atteridgeville on 07 October 2018 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
by
Staff Reporter
Sunday Oct 07, 2018. 17:44
A beautiful free-kick goal from Keegan Ritchie saw Bidvest Wits draw 1-1 against Mamelodi Sundowns in an Absa Premiership match at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The draw leaves Wits at the top of the league table with 17 points, six places and six points better off than Sundowns who have played two games less.
Wits started the better of the twos and nearly took the lead in the second minute when Terrence Dzvukamanja met a right-sided free-kick from Keegan Ritchie, but his ten-yard header rattled the woodwork.
Next decent opening only came in the 19th minute when Sibusiso Vilakazi met a right-sided cross from Motjeka Madisha with a strong header, but his effort skimmed the wrong side of the post.
Five minutes later Simon Murry got onto the end of a well-worked corner-kick, but the Wits striker saw his six-yard header at the back post magnificently saved by the keeper.
Four minutes before the break some sloppy defending by Wits allowed Toni Silva to break through on goal, but he was denied in a one-on-one by goalkeeper Darren Keet which saw the half end goalless.
Murray should really have given the Clever Boys the lead three minutes into the second half when a sloppy pass from Wayne Arendse gifted him the ball 16-yards out, but his shot was saved after a fantastic acrobatic save from Denis Onyango.
Wits paid for that miss in the 56th minute when Gaston Sirino beat two defenders down the right before slipping the ball to Hlompho Kekana who fired home from 16-yards out to give Sundowns the lead, 1-0.
Wits, though, were able to draw level in the 67th minute when Ritchie spectacularly curled home a 35-yard free-kick, 1-1.
Vilakazi had a great opportunity to steal the win in injury time when Vilakazi broke through on goal and tried to chip the Wits keeper, but Keet denied him to see the match end 1-1.
Mamelodi Sundowns (0) 1 (Kekana 56’)
Bidvest Wits (0) 1 (Ritchie 67’)
Teams
Sundowns: Onyango, Morena, Madisha, Nascimento, Langerman, Maboe (Zwane 76’), Kekana, Mabunda, Sirino (Lakay 89’), Vilakazi, Silva (Mahlambi 46’).
Wits: Keet, Hlatshwayo, Johannes, Monare, Murray (Hotto 88’), Hlanti, Mkhwanazi, Alexander (Mere 63’), Ritchie, Dzvukamanja, Majoro (Motupa 62’).
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