Jonathan Armogam (Gallo Images)

Related Links

• Celtic ease past Maritzburg
• Mphela targets Golden Boot
• Arrows bag all the points

Fresh from claiming their first PSL point at the weekend in a 1-1 draw with Free State Stars, the Cape side will be delighted at claiming a maiden three-pointer that sees them move well clear of the relegation zone.

The Clever Boys, meanwhile, have failed to win any of their last three league matches and their customary strong start to the season doesn’t seem to be materialising.

Vasco got off to a positive start, with Armogam heading just over the bar after meeting Bradley August’s free kick and then forcing Wits goalkeeper Darren Keet into a fine save with a drilled shot.

But the momentum soon shifted in favour of the visitors, who were enjoying the greater share of possession and bossing the game in midfield.

Hard-running Michael Morton tested Vasco ‘keeper Posnett Omony with a free kick from about 25 metres out in the 12th minute, while striker Geoffrey Sserunkuma crashed a long range effort against the crossbar four minutes later.

The Cape side remained a threat on the counter and August was presented with a chance to head his team ahead in the 27th minute, but he only managed to pick out Keet with his effort.

Just past the half hour mark Vasco stunned their visitors by taking the lead. Skipper Keenin Lesch played Armogam in on goal and the striker beat Keet with a low shot to make it 1-0 in favour of the home team.

The Clever Boys pressed hard for an equaliser in what remained of the first half, winning several corner kicks – one of which saw Mark Haskins head just over the target – but the score remained 1-0 to Vasco at the interval.

Wits coach Roger de Sa didn’t wait long to make a change in the second half, sending on Thando Mngomeni less than ten minutes after the restart.

The reshuffle almost paid immediate dividends, with Sserunkuma handed a shooting chance inside the Vasco penalty area, but his goal-bound shot was punched away by Omony.

Much of the next 20 minutes was spent with the sides trading shooting chances. Haskins, Mngomeni and Sifiso Myeni all blazed efforts off target for Wits, while Sibusiso Zuma tested Keet with a long range shot.

The Clever Boys pressed forward in the final minutes in search of an equaliser but chances were hard to come by against a determined Vasco defence.

Mngomeni got a shot on target from a free kick with just under four minutes of regulation time to play, but Omony was equal to the task and kept his clean sheet intact.

With Wits throwing men forward there was always the chance that they could concede a second on the break – substitute Aidan Jenniker was the man to drive the final nail into the visitors’ coffin, cracking home a low shot after good set-up play by Brian Kgafane.

Vasco da Gama (1) 2 (Armogam 32’, Jenniker 90+’)
Bidvest Wits 0

Vasco: (4-4-2) Omony; Isaacs, Tsotetsi, Adams, Mototo; Karkee, Lesch (Jenniker 90+’), Mothibantwa, August (Alexander 59’); Armogam (Kgafane 83’), Zuma

Wits: (4-5-1) Keet; Pule, Mashamaite, Batabaire, Phillips (Richards 78’); Myeni, Langwe, Morton, Haskins, De Oliveira (Mngomeni 54’); Sserunkuma (Vilakazi 59’)