Nelspruit - A second half strike from Sifiso Myeni helped Bidvest Wits secure all three points when they beat Santos 1-0 at the Mbombela Stadium in an Absa Premiership tie.
The match had all the signs of a goalless draw until Wits found a bit of direction in the second half and scored the all-important goal.
The first half was an evenly matched yet dull affair with both teams failing to make the right passes in the last third of the field.
Santos played their typical physical game and it was no surprise that their midfielder Phikolomzi Kefile was the first man to go into the referee’s book in the 28th minute for a foul on Sifiso Myeni.
It was livewire Myeni who got the first chance to open the scoring in the 38th minute when he found some space to shoot on the right, but Santos’ goalkeeper Lee Langervelt was positioned well enough to make a comfortable save.
Santos had a chance of their own a minute later when Myeni gave away a dangerous free kick for a foul on Vuyisile Wana, but Shaun Sopio failed to hit the target from 20 yards out.
Myeni did however get it right in the 59th minute when he connected with a cross from Mbulelo Mabizela to bury the ball at the back of the net from close range.
Santos coach Boebie Solomons tried to rescue a point by removing midfielder Kefile and introducing the lanky Eleazar Rodgers, however it was the other substitute Bongi Macala who came close to getting the equaliser in the 83rd minute, but his shot missed to the right.
It was a game of few chances, but the Students took their chances beautifully to secure their first victory in the new season. Santos on the other hand suffered their second league defeat in as many matches.
Scorers:
Bidvest Wits (0) 1 (Myeni 59)
Santos 0
Teams:
Wits: Murambadoro – Mngomezulu, Mabizela, Gumede, Phungwayo - Myeni, Jayiya, Sibande, Chapman (Koapeng 90), Mngomezulu, Fredericks – Sif Vilakazi (Mngomeni 52)
Santos: Langevelt – Bishop, Van Beulen, W Arendse, Kefile (Rodgers 79) - Armogam (Macala 57), T Arendse, Sopio, Basie - Shabangu (Eugen 67), Wana
The match had all the signs of a goalless draw until Wits found a bit of direction in the second half and scored the all-important goal.
The first half was an evenly matched yet dull affair with both teams failing to make the right passes in the last third of the field.
Santos played their typical physical game and it was no surprise that their midfielder Phikolomzi Kefile was the first man to go into the referee’s book in the 28th minute for a foul on Sifiso Myeni.
It was livewire Myeni who got the first chance to open the scoring in the 38th minute when he found some space to shoot on the right, but Santos’ goalkeeper Lee Langervelt was positioned well enough to make a comfortable save.
Santos had a chance of their own a minute later when Myeni gave away a dangerous free kick for a foul on Vuyisile Wana, but Shaun Sopio failed to hit the target from 20 yards out.
Myeni did however get it right in the 59th minute when he connected with a cross from Mbulelo Mabizela to bury the ball at the back of the net from close range.
Santos coach Boebie Solomons tried to rescue a point by removing midfielder Kefile and introducing the lanky Eleazar Rodgers, however it was the other substitute Bongi Macala who came close to getting the equaliser in the 83rd minute, but his shot missed to the right.
It was a game of few chances, but the Students took their chances beautifully to secure their first victory in the new season. Santos on the other hand suffered their second league defeat in as many matches.
Scorers:
Bidvest Wits (0) 1 (Myeni 59)
Santos 0
Teams:
Wits: Murambadoro – Mngomezulu, Mabizela, Gumede, Phungwayo - Myeni, Jayiya, Sibande, Chapman (Koapeng 90), Mngomezulu, Fredericks – Sif Vilakazi (Mngomeni 52)
Santos: Langevelt – Bishop, Van Beulen, W Arendse, Kefile (Rodgers 79) - Armogam (Macala 57), T Arendse, Sopio, Basie - Shabangu (Eugen 67), Wana