Steely and focused Wits shut up shop against Sundowns in top-of-the-table clash

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

They laboured to this narrow win against defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns yesterday, to overtake their visitors at the top of the standings.

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.

Wits and Downs had contrasting fortunes coming into the match, the hosts blowing hot and cold, leaving questions marks regarding whether they were stubborn enough to fight until the bitter end of this championship chase, while the Brazilians had excelled in their last six matches, where they won five and drew the other.

If that didn’t speak to their credentials as favourites to retain their trophy, then no statistics ever would.

Wits had a plan, perhaps emanating from the fact that when the two teams last met in the corresponding fixture in February at Loftus, Sundowns gave them a masterclass that had to have lingered long in memory when they convincingly beat them 2-0.

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, pictured, 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 give the two sides a different dimension and maybe even a bit of an edge in seeing 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 had to be steely and focused. Sundowns threw everything at them and hoped not to be caught on the counter, or else the game would be completely beyond their reach. When Hlungwani added five minutes to optional time, it was squeaky-bum time.

This game hardly had the neutrals on the edge of their seats, but being a potential title decider, it naturally had applause, jeers and a bit of drama between the two benches, particularly when the referee was dishing out red cards.

Wits fans celebrated after the game, with hugs all around, as a sign that they’d taken a big leap in the title race. Things are tight at the top of the table and there’s everything to play for with five matches remaining for both the new log leaders and second-placed Sundowns, with just a point separating them.