Bloemfontein - Frank "Gabadinho" Mhango scored the decisive goal against his former team Bloemfontein Celtic as Bidvest Wits won 2-1 at the Dr Molemela Stadium on Saturday night.
The Absa Premiership match saw the Clever Boys open the scoring early through Thabang Monare, before Phunya Sele Sele equalised through Atusaye Nyondo, but Mhango had the last laugh with a fine goal early in the second stanza.
Wits got off to a flying start and claimed the lead as early as the fourth minute. Elias Pelembe played a fine ball into the box from a dead-ball situation and Monare escaped his marker and glanced home a stooping header to open the scoring.
Celtic hit back on the half hour mark with a beautifully worked goal which saw Musa Nyatama and Lyle Lakay combine to set up Nyondo, who provided a fine low finish into the corner to make it 1-1.
On 33 minutes the hosts almost claimed the lead, with Lakay driving a powerful volley on target but Darren Keet reacted sharply to tip the ball over his crossbar. It marked a strong period in the game for Celtic, with Wits’ early dominance no longer a factor.
The Clever Boys, though, started the second half strongly and reclaimed the lead just six minutes after the restart, with Mhango combining well with Eleazar Rodgers before firing home a shot from just inside the penalty area.
Phunya Sele Sele were unable to really threaten a second equaliser, with Wits far more organised and efficient in defence, ensuring they claimed the victory and moved to within a point of co-leaders Kaizer Chiefs and Golden Arrows with two games in hand.
Teams:
Celtic: Tignymeb, Dube, Letlabika, Sankara, Mxoyana, Hotto (Abdul Razak 55’), Ndengane, Maruping, Lakay (Mahlasela 71’), Nyatama (Masuku 83’), Nyondo
Wits: Keet, Allie, Mkhwanazi, Hlatshwayo, Zulu,Pelembe, Monare, Motshwari, Klate (Ntshangase 90+2’), Mhango (Myeni 85’), Rodgers (Malajila 67’)