Wits strikers fail to pitch up against Al Ahly

JOHANNESBURG: There was certainly hope for Wits, who needed only to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg of this first round Caf Champions League tie.

Wits didn’t do enough though, with their two best opportunities to break the deadlock coming on the stroke of halftime when defender and captain on the day, Buhle Mkhwanazi, had his goalbound header miraculously saved by Al Ahly goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy and striker Gabadinho Mhango’s shot shaving the near post and going out for a goal kick.

Wits were cautious in the opening minutes and weren’t helped by the fact that their two main attackers – James Keene and Phakamani Mahlambi – were hardly themselves. No-one was surprised when Mahlambi made way for Elias Pelembe early in the second half. Al Ahly protected their lead with aplomb.

Although breached by Wits several times, including those two chances just before the halftime break, their goalkeeper was like a wall. Al Ahly could have extended their overall lead in the dying minutes when forward Amr Gamal blitzed past the Wits defence with ease and found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs. But the woodwork came to his rescue, Gamal’s attempt clearly good enough to beat him but not the post.

Had Mahlambi and Keene been on song, life would have been a lot easier for Wits. They dominated enough to get the required two goal advantage to overturn the first-leg result, even without their captain Thulani Hlatshwayo, whose yellow card in the away clash was his second caution of the tournament and meant he’d be suspended for this encounter.

The feat means Wits are now relegated to the Caf Confederation Cup, the less prestigious of the two continental tournaments but still credible, where they will be involved in a playoff to try and reach the group stages there.

Meanwhile, SuperSport United moved one step closer to qualifying for the Caf Confederation Cup with a 4-0 win and 6-3 aggregate victory over Al Ahly Shendi at the Lucas Moripe Stadium yesterday.

SuperSport made lightwork of the Sudanese team who came into the match with a 3-2 advantage from the first leg. Matsatsantsa’s goals were scored by Tefu Mashamaite, Aubrey Modiba, Kingston Nkhatha and an own goal from Eltayeb Abaker.