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Johannesburg - Defending Absa Premiership champions SuperSport United began the defence of their title in the worst possible way when they were beaten 3-0 by Bidvest Wits at a sparse Coca-Cola Park on Saturday and finished the match with 10-men.
The champions had midfielder Brent Carelse sent off 10 minutes into the second half after what appeared to be an altercation with referee Luando Mfiki. It proved to be a serious setback as Wits scored all their goals after United were reduced to 10 men to kick-off their new season off with a vital win against a side that has won three back-to-back league titles.
But even when they had 11 players on the pitch United looked a pale shadow of the side that has dominated the league for the past three seasons and on this display got what they deserved - nothing.
The possibility that their captain and Bafana Bafana central defender Bongani Khumalo is heading to London to play for Tottenham Hotspur has further weakened coach Gavin Hunt’s side.
Although it is early days, United look as if they will face an uphill struggle to win a record four titles this season.
Khumalo was not available for United on Saturday.
Playing this match at Coca-Cola Park also proved to a bad advert for South African soccer and the Premier Soccer League as only a handful of fans - about 700 - turned up to this 60 000 capacity stadium. Wits's home ground, Milpark, is being upgraded.
The lack of fans meant a lack of atmosphere and as result this first match of the season for both these side never got out of first gear.
Shots on goal were few and far between in a below par opening 45 minutes.
The Students had the first shot in anger in the 10th minute after SuperSport goalkeeper Wayne Brown over carried the ball outside his penalty area and referee Mfiki awarded Wits a free-kick just outside the United penalty area.
From the set piece Wits newcomer Christopher Flandorp sent his shot fractionally wide of the upright.
Two minutes later Wits were awarded another free kick in a similar position but this time another new signing Ryan Chapman fired wide.
United took until the 20th minute to register their first shot on target when Anthony Laffor’s effort bounced off the top of the crossbar. Then in the 32nd minute United’s new pre-season signing Dipsy Selolwane had a goal bound shot blocked inside the Wits penalty area.
United’s new English born keeper Brown showed his courage in the 42nd minute when he bravely dived at the feet of Sifiso Vilakazi to stop the Students midfielder slamming home a superb cross from Chapman that had split open the champions defence.
A minute later at the other end, Wits Zimbabwean keeper Energy Murambadoro pulled off a great save from a header from United’s new Angolan striker Jose Pereira. In injury time Carelse was wide with a 22-metre free-kick.
Then came the sending off drama when Carelse was sent off in the 55th minute for what appeared to be dissent towards referee Mfiki. The United midfielder was screaming for a penalty after being brought down inside the danger zone by Wits defender Timothy Batabaire.
However, Mfiki who had a solid match and kept good control, immediately showed Carelse the red card after an exchange of words from the player.
Wits took advantage of having an extra player. The Students went 1-0 ahead in the 65th minute with a well worked training ground free-kick from Chapman that worked to perfection.
Chapman foxed the United defence by laying the ball to Brad Phillips who coolly slotted past Brown to make it 1-0.
Wits made it 2-0 in the 86th minute when substitute Thando Mngomeni was pulled down inside the penalty area by Ricardo Katza and Mfiki had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Mngomeni stepped up and slotted past Brown.
Then came the cherry on top for the "home" side when Chapman marked a fine debut by scoring in the last minute of injury time to complete the rout and give Wits a 3-0 win and a perfect start to the new season.
