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Wits fight back to beat Chippa

Johannesburg - Wits came from behind to burst Chippa United’s bubble when they edged the rookies 2-1 in their Premiership match at Bidvest Stadium on Wednesday night.

The defeat left Chippa lying at the foot of the Premiership standings, while the Students climbed into the top half of the table, settling in seventh place.

Matthew Pattison and Ryan Chapman scored the two goals to secure maximum points for the Students, while the visitors’ strike came from Brent Carelse.

Wits came close to opening the floodgates in the sixth minute when Calvin Kadi found himself with space inside the box, but he took his time and the Chippa defence recovered to clear the danger.

A minute later Sibusiso Vilakazi did well to drag defenders with him before pulling the ball back for Pattison whose shot lacked power and sting as it sailed out for a goalkick.

Chippa moved ahead two minutes later through the boot of Carelse who found himself unmarked inside the box and the midfielder made no mistake, firing home with his left foot to beat goalminder Ryan Harrison.

In the 16th minute Wits were awarded a freekick from a long way out and Pattison unleashed a pile driver which goalkeeper Daouda Kassaly parried back into play, but the hosts failed to capitalise on the mistake.

The Clever Boys' fans broke into song and frenzy, celebrating a goal from Kadi in the 23rd minute, but the referee had blown for offside, much to the disappointment of the fans and Wits coach Clive Barker on the bench.

Barker had to make an injury enforced substitution in the 27th minute after Kadi come out second best following a collision with defender James Okwuosa, and this saw the introduction of Ryan Chapman.

Pattison levelled matters for the Students in the 39th minute, side-footing a stunning cross from Bongolethu Jayiya to beat Kassaly.

Shortly after the interval, Masibusane Zongo nearly gave the Chilli Boys the lead when he spotted that Harrison was off his goal-line. The winger chipped over the keeper but his effort sailed wide.

Chapman did well to get to the end of yet another solid Jayiya cross to put the Clever Boys in the lead in the 54th minute.

And Chapman was at it again in the 68th minute, showing the Chippa defence a clean pair of heels, forcing Okwuosa to hack him down just outside the box. The Clever Boys failed take advantage from the resultant set-piece as Pattison’s tame effort was deflected out for a corner.

In the 85th minute, Wits skipper Sibusiso Vilakazi was brought down outside the area by Vuyisile Ntombayithethi and Erwin Isaacs let fly a shot from the freekick, but Kassaly was up to the task, parrying the ball away from danger.

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