Clever Boys win in KZN

Pietermaritzburg - Wits came from a goal down to defeat Maritzburg United 2-1 upon their return to Absa Premiership action on Tuesday evening.

Following a lengthy mid-season break, goals from Sandile Zuke and Fikru Tefera saw the Clever Boys come from a goal down to claim the three points after Mohammed Anas had put the Team of Choice ahead at the Harry Gwala Stadium.

Wits created early chances for Sandile Zuke and Jabulani Shongwe, who both shot wide of the target in the third and eighth minutes respectively.

However, Maritzburg opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Ashley Hartog teed up Mohammed Anas, who beat Moeneeb Josephs to make it 1-0 to the home team.

United’s lead was short-lived, with Sandile Zuke providing an exceptional finish in the 27th minute to leave Virgil Vries with no chance and take the score to 1-1.

Wits suffered a blow late in the half when they were forced to replace defender Buhle Mkhwanazi with Kees Kwakman due to injury.

Yet the Johannesburg team claimed the lead in injury time just before the interval, with new signing Fikru Tefera heading home Siyabonga Nhlapo’s cross for his first Clever Boys goal on debut.

Wits almost added to their lead in the 53rd minute through veteran striker Henrico Botes, but Vries was able to make a fine save to keep his side in touching distance.

And Maritzburg almost equalised in the 71st minute when Thamsanqa Mkhize got on the end of a cross, but his header drifted just wide of the target.

The Clever Boys were able to protect their lead for the remainder of the match and secure a valuable away win.

Gavin Hunt’s side remain in third place on the log, moving to 34 points alongside Mamelodi Sundowns, who defeated Moroka Swallows in a concurrent game on the league’s first evening of matches in 2015.

Scorers:

Maritzburg United (1) 1 (Anas 19’)
Wits (2) 2 (Zuke 27’, Tefera 45+3’)

Teams:

Maritzburg United: Vries, Mabaso, Paintsil, Banda, Cele (Mokate 75’), Mekoa (Lentjies 85’), Mkhize, Mngonyama, Vilakazi (Booysen 58’), Hartog, Anas

Wits: Josephs, Nhlapo, Hlatshwayo, Mkhwanazi (Kwakman 45+1’), Bhasera, Ntshangase, Zuke, Shongwe (Faty 89’), Vilakazi, Tefera, Botes (Ngcobo 66’)