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SuperSport too smart for Wits

Johannesburg - SuperSport United maintained their top spot on the Absa Premiership log when they beat Bidvest Wits 2-1 in an Absa Premiership match played at Bidvest Stadium on Sunday.

United scored from the boots of Brian Umony and Glen Salmon while Wits got their consolation goal from Mark Haskins.

Bidvest Wits coach Roger de Sa made five changes from the team that was held to a one-all draw by Free State Stars on Wednesday.

Prior the game, the Students had picked up one point from two games at home after their 1-0 loss to Mpumalanga Black Aces and draw with Stars.

The Students’ dream of redeeming themselves after collecting only one point in their two previous games suffered a serious blow.

‘Matsatsantsa a Pitori’, as SuperSport United are known, came to Bidvest Stadium seeking to collect all three points on offer to consolidate their top spot on the Premiership log, and the Gavin Hunt-coached side did not choke.

SuperSport were dictating terms with Thandani Ntshumayelo, Dane Klate and Siyabonga Nkosi outstanding.

Rene Richards could have opened the score for Wits in the 11th minute but he was denied by the agile keeping of Emile Baron in United’s goal when the goal minder parried his well taken free kick for a corner.

After the first 15 minutes of the first half SuperSport United were starting to come back into it and it was Umony who opened up the scoring. The goal was a result of a corner kick taken by Siyabonga Nkosi and headed in the path of Umony by Salmon.

The strike seemed to wake Wits up and they immediately responded with some attacking moves but poor finishing meant no goal for the Students in the first half.

But the story was not finished. Mark Haskins headed home a Sifiso Myeni cross in the 46th minute to level matters for his team.

Two minutes later Haskins was denied a brace when he connected well with another cross from Myeni but his shot went over the bar.

Both sides were even in the second half and it was difficult to predict the winner.

Mesmeric runs by the nifty Myeni on the right flank caused United’s defence considerable concern. On more than one occasion he zoomed past Matsatsantsa’s David Kannemeyer and delivered some beautiful crosses but his teammates failed to connect.

Wits suffered a serious blow when their captain, Tefu Mashamaite, was sent off for an early shower for dissent in the 70th minute.

Klate came close to scoring in the 78th minute but his shot was blocked by Darren Keet, and from that rebound, Glen Salmon was at hand to score the visitors’ second goal to put his side in front for the second time.

Credit should also go to the visitors’ keeper Baron who saved Calvin Kadi’s shot in the 87th minute to make sure his team remain in the driving seat.

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