Students secure CAF victory

Wits defeated Saint-Lousienne 3-1 in their CAF Champions League tie at BidVest Stadium on Saturday evening to progress to the next round of the competition.

The first half was complete one-way traffic with the Students laying siege on the Saint-Lousienne goal. Their efforts were rewarded in the 27th minute when Daine Klate's expertly-taken free-kick found the back of the net.

Gavin Hunt's side doubled their lead in the 46th minute through Sifiso Myeni before Saint-Lousienne managed to pull a goal back in the 78th minute.

The hosts would have the final word, however, as Cuthbert Malajila netted in the 86th minute to seal the tie 4-3 on aggregate.

The Premiership outfit made a bright start to the encounter, but Saint-Lousienne immediately made it known that they would look to defend their first-leg lead at all costs with two crunching tackles on Myeni and Klate in quick succession.

Siboniso Gaxa came agonisingly close to opening the scoring in the 10th minute when his header crashed against the crossbar, after some great work down the right-hand side by Gabadinho Mhango.

The visitors looked to frustrate the Clever Boys with their robust style of play and seemed content on allowing their opponents to dominate possession in the first two thirds of the pitch.

Thulani Hlatshwayo was unfortunate to see his headed effort go inches wide of the target in the 21st minute, but Wits struck six minutes later when Klate slotted home a free-kick on the edge of the area to level the aggregate score.

Wits should've doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time when Mhango played in Ben Motshwari, but his shot was blocked.

They came out all guns blazing in the second half and scored again in the 46th minute when Myeni danced his way around two defenders before cooly beating the keeper.

Malajila almost scored with his first touch of the game in the 72nd minute, but the onrushing goalkeeper brilliantly denied the substitute.

Saint-Lousienne managed to pull a goal back in the 78th minute to level the tie, but Malajila pounced in the 86th minute with a well-taken volley to book a date with Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the next round.