Students at wits' end

This was not the game for the football purist - hurried shots, mistimed tackles and countless back passes in a scrappy first half.

What was served up at Bidvest stadium yesterday between Wits and Orlando Pirates in the first leg of their MTN8 semifinal will not take much effort to improve on.

It was left to defenders Siyabonga Sangweni and Thabo Matlaba to rescue the clash with goals in the 55th and 73rd minutes, respectively.

Pirates skipper Sangweni dashed into the penalty box and - unmarked - stabbed home Daine Klate's corner for the opener and the first crucial away goal.

The hosts couldn't respond and moments after striker S'thembiso Ngcobo had replaced the ineffective Henrico Botes, the Buccaneers found a second through Matlaba, - never an unlikely goalscorer, given the space afforded him. Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa's long ball needed just a touch from Sifiso Myeni to let Matlaba loose on an incredible run from his own half.

With only keeper Jackson Mabokgwane to beat, the nimble-footed defender found the back of the net to seal the victory.

Before all this action that served largely to mask what had been a sluggish encounter, the players made their way to the changing rooms expecting the hairdryer treatment from coaches Gavin Hunt and Vladimir Vermezovic.

None of the shots taken in the first half were on target and it was left to the half-time dancers to wake up the capacity crowd with their silky moves.

Maybe the fact of a return leg prompted the cautious approach, but Kaizer Chiefs and Platinum Stars would have poured cold water on that theory based on their encounter the night before in the same competition in Rustenburg. Stars were punished because they did not take their chances. Now Amakhosi are taking a 2-0 advantage into the second leg next weekend.

Wits didn't create scoring opportunities, while Pirates grabbed theirs. With both coaches trying hard to outwit each other, the two sides never got going until Sangweni's goal and Matlaba's moment of brilliance.