Two in title race as Wits falter
● The Absa Premiership title run-in will be a two horse race between Orlando Pirates and defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns after Bidvest Wits were virtually eliminated from the race.
The 1-1 draw with 10-man SuperSport United at Mbombela Stadium yesterday, where Terence Dzvukamanja was denied a legitimate goal in the 84th minute, dealt a hammer blow to Wits’ slim chances as they will end on only 54 points if they win their remaining two matches.
It is no longer in their hands because Pirates have 53 points already and the Buccaneers will have to lose their remaining matches against Cape Town City away and Polokwane City at home for Wits to have a realistic chance.
There is also Sundowns, who are on 50 points with three matches to play against Black Leopards away, Golden Arrows at home and Free State Stars away.
Nobody knows how many points Sundowns are going to end up on because they face the possibility of being docked points because of the Wayne Arendse saga that has dragged on for months and they will also have to drop points for Wits to have a sniff.
United will continue to push for a topeight finish in their remaining matches against Maritzburg at home and Highlands Park away as they remain sixth in the standings.
The first real chance of the game fell for United when Wits goalkeeper Ricardo Goss had to stretch at full length to parry away a close-range header from Bradley Grobler.
After a series of exchanges, mostly in the midfield, Wits attacking midfielder Thabang Monare tested Ronwen Williams with a direct long-range shot after the hour mark but the United goalkeeper dived the right way to deal effectively with the danger.
The opening goal finally arrived after 38 minutes through an unlikely source in defender S’fiso Hlanti when he tapped the ball into an empty net after Williams failed to deal with a speculative shot from Gabadinho Mhango.
Wits’ lead did not last long as another defender, Clayton Daniels, ensured that they went into the break at 1-1 when he connected with a well-taken corner kick from Modiba deep into referee’s optional time.
United came back for the second half with purpose and they missed out on an opportunity to take the lead early when Daniels failed to take a chance for his second of the night when his header went wide from Modiba’s corner.
United suffered a huge blow after the hour mark when Dean Furman was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Haashim Domingo but the Wits striker should also have been disciplined for elbowing the United captain in the process.
The biggest moment of the match came in the closing stages when a shot from Dzvukamanja ricocheted off the upright and over the line but referee Phelelani Ndaba, after consultation with his far-side assistant, wrongfully ruled it no goal.