Wits out of the running for title after draw
THE Absa Premiership title must surely now be a step to far for Bidvest Wits after they spurned many chances and struck the woodwork to draw against SuperSport United.
SuperSport ended the game with 10 men after defender Thabo September was sent off in the 86th minute.
Some neat midfield football, and unusually open defending from two normally well-structured back fours, led to a healthy dose of scoring chances.
Two Bafana Bafana goalkeepers — the retired Moeneeb Josephs for Wits, and SuperSport’s emerging Ronwen Williams — stood firm in the face of several shots at goal. Williams was man of the match.
Coach Gavin Hunt has played down Wits’ outside chance of the title. And with good reason.
Coming into the game eight points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, with two games in hand, the Students would be relying on Downs and secondplaced Kaizer Chiefs to slip up. On the current form of Sundowns and Chiefs, it’s unlikely.
Wits came out from the break looking like they had a plan to unpick the SuperSport defence
And now less so.
SuperSport coach Cavin Johnson made three changes from the team that lost 2-0 away to Ajax Cape Town in midweek. September, Sibusiso Khumalo and Dino Ndlovu came in for Mor Diouf, Benett Chenene and the suspended Enocent Mkhabela.
Wits counterpart Gavin Hunt retained his starting line-up from the Students’ 2-1 home win against Moroka Swallows.
Papy Faty’s hopeful volley for Wits early on was well struck but high. Sibusiso Khumalo’s response for SuperSport was a free-kick that took a deflection for a corner.
Soon after that Lebogang Manyama got up strongly to David Mathebula’s cross, for a strong header at Josephs.
The Students’ lively playmaker Jabulani Shongwe lined up a 27m strike in the 25th minute that had to be palmed over by Williams.
From Sameehg Doutie’s freekick, Ndlovu’s header was tipped over by Josephs. The best chance of the half came to Bradley Grobler in the 33rd. The SuperSport striker, released by a ball over the top from Ndlovu, forced a half-save from Williams, with the loose ball cleared.
Wits came out from the break looking like they had a plan to unpick the SuperSport defence.
They should have scored in the 48th. A ball worked via Faty and Sthembiso Ngcobo across goal found Calvin Kadi free on the left, but he shot inches over.
Another clear chance went begging in the 59th minute when Shongwe fed Ngcobo and the striker’s low shot struck the left upright. Shongwe hit the rebound just over the bar.
Johnson brought on Sibusiso Zuma for Grobler in the 61st minute to add the ex-Bafana Bafana veteran’s skill and intelligence to a Matsatsantsa front-line that was threatening to score against the run of play. Two minutes later Phumlani Ntshangase gave the ball away outside the Wits area, but Josephs saved from Zuma.