Fiery Clever Boys are way too smart for Tuks
BIDVEST Wits proved the more studious in the battle of the tertiary institutions, outmanoeuvring University of Pretoria in last night's 3-0 Nedbank Cup last-16 victory here.
Dutch centre-back Kees Kwakman put Wits ahead in the 39th minute, before Sibusiso Vilakazi (56th) and Henrico Botes (64th) added two more in the second half.
SA U17 international Liam Jordan, 16, son of late former Manning Rangers striker Keryn, made his Wits debut as an 83rd-minute substitute for Vilakazi.
Tuks coach Sammy Troughton came to Johannesburg with an attacking mentality. But his side never found their rhythm and Wits proved the more educated side, clinically working a convincing advantage.
The two teams played crisp, clean, quick football in an entertaining cup tie. The Clever Boys though – who do also have the greater playing firepower – crisper.
Last season Wits, finishing third in the Absa Premiership, had just the Nedbank Cup at the end of the season as a trophy hope, but lost the final 3-1 against Orlando Pirates in Durban.
With Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns again left to fight it out in the league at the death of this season, Wits are chasing SA's version of the
were
more
than
a
little FA Cup again. The quarterfinalists look a decent bet to go as far, or even further, than the last campaign.
The way the two teams were laid out this had the potential to be an attacking game. Both coaches opted for three forwards.
Wits boss Gavin Hunt employed Vilakazi, Chris Katongo and Botes in a familiar 4-3-3 formation for the Students. Troughton had Thabo Mosadi, Geofrey Massa and Thabo Mnyamane in an even more adventurous 3-4-3.
Still, both sides spent the early stages sizing each other up – there were no shots on target in the opening quarter.
In the 25th minute a forceful run from Papy Faty did pry space for Wits, the midfielder playing Vilakazi through, who was dispossessed. Faty struck the loose ball over. Tuks’ forward-line struggled to combine the way the talented running trio have the potential to. They showed signs of doing it, but Wits countered by opening the scoring when, from a free-kick, an attempted clearance landed for Kwakman to volley in-off the right upright from the left of the area.
Massa earned Tuks'
first
real chance, the Ugandan's header being pushed for a corner by Moeneeb Josephs.
The second half started more like the tasty dish the first had offered to serve up.
On a Clever Boys counter-attack Phumlani Ntshangase found Jabulani Shongwe free to advance down the left and cross perfectly for Vilakazi to tap in a volley from three metres.
Botes added a third with a sweetly struck left-footed shot from a metre outside the area into stranded keeper Washington Arubi’s top-right corner, as Wits started to threaten a rout.