Johannesburg - Two second half goals from Calvin Kadi and Thembinkosi Fanteni, and a Man of the Match performance from Matthew Pattison, saw BidVest Wits claim their first Absa Premiership win of the season as they beat Celtic 2-0 at the BidVest Stadium on Saturday night.
The first 45 minutes saw the home side playing their best football of the season as the dominated proceedings from the word go.
Celtic were mere spectators in the first half as Wits controlled the midfield battle and dictated terms on the field.
Still, despite their utter superiority the Clever Boys struggled to create any real decent chances on goal.
Instead, Wits controlled the possession stakes but showed little patience in the final third as they shot from long range instead of working the ball into better goal scoring situations.
Nonetheless, Pattison was one of the standout players for the Students in the first half as he both posed a threat in attack and a deterrent for the Celtic attackers in defence.
Consequently, Pattison had the first shot on goal in the game when he let rip from 25-yards out in the fifth minute, but he saw his pile-driver go inches wide.
Pattison also played provider as he produced a pass that saw Calvin Kadi through on goal in the eighth minute, but Kadi fired over from just inside the box.
Pattison continued to be a threat in attack and was in the thick of the action again in the 16th minute with another powerful long range shot.
This time, though, the midfielder’s effort was on target, but Patrick Tignyemb was alert to the danger and made a fine save to deny Pattison.
That was about as good as it got for Wits in terms of scoring chances in the first half.
Celtic only had one real effort on goal in the 36th minute, but Joel Mogorosi saw his 20-yard shot sail over the crossbar.
The teams entered the break at 0-0.
The start of the second Stanza saw Wits start where they left off – in control and on the attack.
And they were duly rewarded when Cadi handed the Students the lead in the 50th minute.
Some good passing saw Cadi through on goal and he made no mistake with a superb finish to hand Wits a 1-0 lead.
The Students, though, were not done and it seemed only a matter of time before they doubled their lead.
Cue Pattison and another sublime pass which set new Wits’ man Thembinkosi Fanteni through on goal and, much like Cadi earlier, he made no mistake from close range, 2-0.
Celtic tried to fight their way into the back into the match, but it was too little too late as Wits held on for their first three points of the season.
The first 45 minutes saw the home side playing their best football of the season as the dominated proceedings from the word go.
Celtic were mere spectators in the first half as Wits controlled the midfield battle and dictated terms on the field.
Still, despite their utter superiority the Clever Boys struggled to create any real decent chances on goal.
Instead, Wits controlled the possession stakes but showed little patience in the final third as they shot from long range instead of working the ball into better goal scoring situations.
Nonetheless, Pattison was one of the standout players for the Students in the first half as he both posed a threat in attack and a deterrent for the Celtic attackers in defence.
Consequently, Pattison had the first shot on goal in the game when he let rip from 25-yards out in the fifth minute, but he saw his pile-driver go inches wide.
Pattison also played provider as he produced a pass that saw Calvin Kadi through on goal in the eighth minute, but Kadi fired over from just inside the box.
Pattison continued to be a threat in attack and was in the thick of the action again in the 16th minute with another powerful long range shot.
This time, though, the midfielder’s effort was on target, but Patrick Tignyemb was alert to the danger and made a fine save to deny Pattison.
That was about as good as it got for Wits in terms of scoring chances in the first half.
Celtic only had one real effort on goal in the 36th minute, but Joel Mogorosi saw his 20-yard shot sail over the crossbar.
The teams entered the break at 0-0.
The start of the second Stanza saw Wits start where they left off – in control and on the attack.
And they were duly rewarded when Cadi handed the Students the lead in the 50th minute.
Some good passing saw Cadi through on goal and he made no mistake with a superb finish to hand Wits a 1-0 lead.
The Students, though, were not done and it seemed only a matter of time before they doubled their lead.
Cue Pattison and another sublime pass which set new Wits’ man Thembinkosi Fanteni through on goal and, much like Cadi earlier, he made no mistake from close range, 2-0.
Celtic tried to fight their way into the back into the match, but it was too little too late as Wits held on for their first three points of the season.