Downs’ delight as Wits beaten
SHOCK: HUNT’S MEN HAVE NO ANSWER TO HIGHLANDS
Brazilians now have huge advantage in race for title glory.
Ironically, it was the team that did not play this weekend, Mamelodi Sundowns, who benefited most as the race for the Absa Premiership title took yet more twists and turns.
Cape Town City’s 1-0 loss at AmaZulu on Saturday night dented their title challenge, a first league defeat in seven matches for Benni McCarthy’s men.
And the draw in the Soweto derby was of little use to either Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates, particularly Amakhosi, who remain well off the pace, with the Nedbank Cup fast becoming their only hope of silverware this season.
It was Bidvest Wits’ defeat at Highlands Park, however, that really put Masandawana in the driving seat in the title race, even though the reigning champions still trail Wits by three points.
Gavin Hunt’s side fell to a first away defeat in the league this season, despite taking the lead in Tembisa through Gift Motupa. Strikes from Peter Shalulile and Mokeke Mogaila gave Owen da Gama’s Lions of the North their first league win of 2019.
Wits have won just one of their last four league games and have played three games more than second-placed Sundowns, who will go top if they beat Polokwane City at home by two clear goals or more on Feburary 20.
Whatever the outcome of that match, there is then a potentially pivotal clash between Wits and Sundowns at Bidvest Stadium on February 23.
Both Pirates and Sundowns have proved far more difficult to beat this season than Wits, whose loss to Highlands was their fifth league defeat of the campaign. Pitso Mosimane’s Sundowns have lost just once in the Premiership, while Pirates have been beaten just twice.
Wits now need to steady themselves for a tough-looking Nedbank Cup last-16 clash at Black Leopards on Wednesday, before a 10-day break to prepare for Sundowns, which means Hunt’s men should at least be well-rested when the two big-guns do meet.