Hunt’s Clever Boys outwit Mosimane’s champions

LAST WEEK Wits were criticised for not being steely enough in the matches that are crucial in their bid for the PSL title, just like the season before. When SuperSport United beat them 1-0 defeat seven days ago, it was an incredibly deflating blow and you could tell by their body language.

They laboured to a narrow win over defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns yesterday to overtake their visitors at the top of the table.

This fixture had a lot riding on it, but with another title chasing side in Cape Town City surprisingly going down to Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium a couple of hours earlier, there was a whole lot more at stake.

Yesterday, the Clever Boys set-up their stalls intelligently and it was no surprise that their goal came from a defensive midfielder. Sifiso Myeni, an unexpected name in the Wits starting line-up, went on a mazy run and delivered a cross so accurate all Ben Motshwari had to do was guide it past goalkeeper Denis Onyango and give the Clever Boys the lead.

The second half was a lot scrappier and forced referee Victor Hlungwani to produce two red cards to two substitutes.

It hadn’t been long after both Fares Hachi and Daine Klate were on the pitch for Sundowns and Wits respectively – tactical changes that, by their nature, should have given the two sides a different dimension and maybe even a bit of an edge to see through this tense affair. But they were perhaps too fired up when they came on and were quickly sent for early showers, Hachi getting booked twice to earn his marching orders. So, too, did Klate.

Wits fans celebrated at the end of the game, with hugs all around, a sign that they’d taken a big leap in the title race. Top of the table and all to play for with five matches remaining for both, the new log leaders and second-placed Sundowns are now separated by just a point.