With the kind of performance they displayed, it is hard to see who will stop Bidvest Wits in this season’s edition of the MTN8.
In fact, Wits are as good as being in the final of the tournament following their 3-0 demolition of Cape Town City here last night.
The second leg next weekend in Cape Town should just be a mere formality for Gavin Hunt’s men as they wait to see who they will meet in the winner-takes-all final next month.
The Students were too good for the visitors as they swept them aside with this resounding victory. It would take something special for City to bounce back in this tournament after their poor display last night.
Before last night’s game, Wits had already accounted for the downfall of the two Soweto giants – Chiefs and Pirates – at their home venue, which has become their slaughterhouse. Although they were expected to sweep City aside, no one thought it would be this easy as they hardly raised a sweat in the opening stanza.
City, on the other hand, came to the game on a high following their victory over Chiefs in the quarterfinals, but they never got out of first gear. Their undoing, it seems, was to play for a draw.
They were also let down by being casual at the back as two of the goals were as a result of their mistakes.
They allowed the home side the freedom to venture forward with Gabadinho Mhango the chief architect. The Malawian international was a thorn in the City defence as he was given too much space to manoeuvre and he exploited this with ease. He was the chief destroyer.
Firstly, it was his pinpoint pass which found Eleazar Rodgers who opened the scoring in the 22nd minute.
This was the beginning of the damage as Elias Pelembe punished their sloppy defending with the second goal before Mhango added his name on the score sheet on the stroke of half time after yet another mistake at the back by Tshepo Gumede.
Eric Tinkler responded by introducing Judas Moseamedi and Roland Putsche for Mpho Matsi and Bongolethu in the beginning of the second half but the damage had already been done in the opening 45 minutes. No matter how hard they tried to get the crucial away goal which could have changed the complexion of the tie going into the second leg, they could not break the Wits defence, which was well-marshaled by captain Thulani Hlatshwayo.
Even after goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs was sent off in the 80th minute for dissent, City still could not capitalise on their advantage.
Wits have one leg in the final, but with 90 more minutes still to be played next week, they would be foolish to think the tie is over.
But it looks like a mission impossible for City to reverse the score even in front of their home supporters.