Bidvest Wits thrash Cape Town City in MTN8 first leg semi

Bidvest Wits have one foot on the MTN8 final after their 3-0 first leg victory at Bidvest Stadium on Saturday night of their semifinal against Cape Town City.

Goals from Eleazar Rodgers in the 22 minute, Elias Pelembe in the 38 and Gabadinho Mhango in the 44 saw Wits overwhelm the new PSL team for a healthy lead to take to the second leg at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, September 17.

Wits played the last 12 minutes with 10 men after goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs was sent off for a slight punch on City substitute Duncan Adonis.

The Johannesburg side overwhelmed a City back four clearly still struggling to gel – especially in the face of a structured, intelligent, frontline like the Clever Boys’ – for a 3-0 lead by the break.

New signing Mhango was again the man making things happen for Wits, with an early volley at goalkeeper Shu-Aib Walters and strike scythed wide.

Malawian Mhango floated in the cross from left midfield that Rodgers was left free to get behind the City defence to and connect a volley past Walters at the far post for the opener.

In a rare attack for City, Lebogang Manyama showed skill with a run cutting in from the right and squared to Australian midfielder Matthew Sim, whose drive from range forced a diving save from Josephs.

A mix-up in the Cape defence led to an attacking throw-in for Wits, from which Daine Klate was put down the left, his cutback finding Pelembe, who beat a defender round the right and made it 2-0.

City’s hapless defending also led to Mhango’s third, Tshepo Gumede attempting to head back to Walters, the Malawian quick and alert enough to intercept and perfectly chip the keeper with his first touch, in just under the crossbar.

Wits consolidated in the second half, though also lost some of their steam as Cape Town regrouped.

Students coach Gavin Hunt brought on Wangu Gome, then gave a debut to former Orlando Pirates wing Sifiso Myeni – on for Pelembe – to try to regain the momentum.

City counterpart Eric Tinkler introduced their 17-year-old prospect Adonis.

Josephs was red-carded, for an apparent push on the youngster that was interpreted as a punch, in the 78.