‘Clever Boys’ right on top
Bidvest Wits took outright lead of the Absa Premiership going into the Christmas break, while Chippa United remain in the danger zone.
Both goals in the 2-0 win for Wits at Bidvest Stadium in Johannesburg on Friday came from dead-ball situations as Gavin Hunt’s team again showed aerial superiority.
Striker Lehlohonolo Majoro smashed a penalty kick in the first half to give Wits the lead.
Midfield enforcer Thabang Monare banged in a free kick that gave United keeper Daniel Akpeyi no chance midway through the second half to double the lead, which they held on to until the final whistle.
Chippa had a few chances of their own to score in both halves, with captain Mark Mayambela at the centre of every forward move. But they could not breach the Wits backline, which was without its leader Thulani Hlatswayo, who watched from the stands as he recovered from an injury.
The win for Wits, their ninth in 15 matches to go with three draws and three defeats, took the University club three points clear of second placed Orlando Pirates and stretched their unbeaten run to four matches.
Teams finishing the first half of the season on top have more often than not proven to go on to win the championship and Wits will hope it is the case for them come May next year.
Chippa have now not won a match in eight outings and are in 14th position on 12 points.
For new coach Joel Masutha, it is his third match without a win after drawing his first two matches since his appointment on December 2 to replace sacked Eric Tinkler.
Chippa will resume their league action on January 4 when they host Bloemfontein Celtic at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in East London, before travelling to face Orlando Pirates away two days later.