Wits fight their way into top eight

BIDVEST Wits are finally back in the Absa Premiership’s top eight.

But like the champions’ arduous path to claw back from their abysmal start, Wits had to fight every inch for the three points that took them there in last night’s 2-1 Absa Premiership victory against Maritzburg United at the Bidvest Stadium.

Keegan Ritchie’s free-kick put Wits ahead in the 16th minute, Mohau Mokate equalised in the 79th, with Buhle Mkhwanazi restoring the lead in the 85th.

Elias Pelembe had the first shot on target palmed over by Richard Ofori inside the opening 10 minutes.

That set the tone for an opening half where Wits created the most chances.

The Clever Boys mostly closed and kicked Maritzburg’s dangerous runners off the ball when they came anywhere near the Wits half.

A rattled United should have responded with some of the same treatment in the other direction, but instead stood off too much when Wits were in possession, making Gavin Hunt’s team look the more organised of the two sides, when actually they just had more space.

Maritzburg’s best chance came from a rare moment where they could get some movement in the claustrophobic environment allowed by their opponents, the referee waving advantage after one of many of Thulani Hlatshwayo’s crunching tackles, allowing Lebogang Maboe a cross that Andrea Fileccia volleyed high.

In the other game played last night, AmaZulu beat Ajax Cape Town 2-1.