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Wits overpower struggling Baroka

Cape Town -  Wits claimed top spot on the Premiership standings with a comfortable 5-0 win over bottom-side Baroka at BidVest Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The hosts were impressive from the off as they looked to unsettle a struggling Baroka side.

Sifiso Hlanti fired an early free-kick well over the target early on while Mkhwanazi saw his 14th minute header cleared off the line by a combination of Baroka goalkeeper Avhashoni Tshinuna and Richard Matloga from a Wits corner from the right.

Hlanti's 30-yard free-kick made its way to Tshinuna through the wall but was collected comfortably by the stopper.

Munetsi should have scored on 27 minutes as the ball fell kindly to him, when unmarked in the box after a shot from the edge of the area deflected into his path, but he put his first-time effort wide of the right post.

Wits then took the lead on 31 minutes after a good spell of attacking pressure from Baroka, with a well-weighted free-kick from Klate that was headed across goal from the right-hand side from Hlatshwayo for Mkhwanazi to score with a diving header.

Klate added a second with a well-taken left-footed volley from the left of the box on 38 minutes as the ball dropped to him from a dinked pass over the Baroka defence from Mhango, who had done well on the turn following a James Keene flick from a throw from the right-hand side.

Elias Palembe almost added a third with a close-range header from a Klate cross from the left that was just inches above his head while Collins Makgaka fired over the Wits goal for the last real chance of the first half.

Lesedi Mapheto headed a quickly-taken Wits free-kick away from under his cross bar at the start of the second period while a 58th minute right footed shot from Klate was uncomfortably pushed wide by the Baroka keeper moments later.

Mkhwanazi though was on hand to bag his brace with another diving header, this time low at the far post after an early ball from the right from substitute Mahlambi after he had been slipped the ball by Klate from a short free-kick. 

Mahlambi then headed just wide of the left post as he jumped moments too early to connect to a Hlanti cross from the left as Marshall Menuetsi fired well over from range on 80 minutes,

Wits though added a fourth in the 85th minute when Mamphise Moremi was unable to header clear a curling cross from the right from Mahlambi - who had made a massive impact following his introduction for Palembe in the 70th minute - allowing Uzoenyi to pick up the ball and fire in from close range at the back post via a slight deflection off Moremi.

And Mahlambi made it 5-0 when he picked up a great Klate cross from the left, in the right of the area, before getting a shot away.

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