Johannesburg - Bidvest Wits trounced Kaizer Chiefs 4-0 on the opening day of the new season of the MultiChoice Diski Challenge.
The contest was played in front of a crowd numbering close to the King Zwelithini Stadium's 10 000 capacity.
Interest in the game was high, with Siyanda Xulu, Ryan Moon and Keagan Buchanan all in the starting line-up for Chiefs.
Wits had the first opportunity to score in the first 10 minutes when when Sipho Ntiya-Ntiya brought down Somila Ntsundwana in the box. Sizwe Twala calmly converted the kick past Brandon Peterson as the Glamour Boys fell behind in the seventh minute.
Inside the first half-an-hour, Peterson had to come to the rescue as he blocked a snap-shot from inside the box. A few minutes later Chiefs thought they had won a penalty when Markus Lecki bundled down Mpho Khumalo in the box. However, he was booked for diving by the referee.
The visitors were looking more dangerous as the first half wore on and only a briliantly-timed tackle by Reeve Frosler stopped Chiefs going clean through on goal.
Towards the end of the first period Amakhosi hit the crossbar and were unfortunate not to draw level after a Leckie mistake led to a strike on goal. Moments later the crowd seemed to gasp in surprise when Buchanan was taken off just before half-time.
The number 10 had little influence on the game and it appeared his change was a tactical shift, although it seems more likely it was a planned change as the midfielder makes his way back from a long-term knee injury.
Chiefs should have equalised soon after but a goalmouth scramble led to a powerful shot that was fortuitously blocked by a Wits body. The Clever Boys made them pay as a fine curling Pentjies Zulu free-kick found its way into the back of the net from around 25-yards out.
After the break, Ntsundwana nearly made it 3-0 when his long-range effort skipped off the top of the crossbar. Yet, it wouldn't be long before Wits added a third as Chiefs' defence looked all at sea. Knox Mutizwa took advantage with a smart finish into the bottom corner in the 52nd minute.
Amakhosi could have hit back immediately but Tshidiso Monamodi blazed over from a pull-back to the penalty spot. Keeper Kyle Peters kept out Monamodi again in the 61st minute after a shot from the edge of the area.
Wits then made it 4-0 in the 75th minute when Ntsundwana tapped in at the far post. The scoreline seemed to demoralise the visitors, although Moon did come close with a consolation effort.
The Clever Boys would hold on to take the 4-0 win and get their MDC campaign off to a flying start.