Students teach Downs a lesson

04 March 2015 - 02:33 By Marc Strydom
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Bidvest Wits' midfielder Sibusiso Vilakazi.
Bidvest Wits' midfielder Sibusiso Vilakazi.
Image: LEFTY SHIVAMBU/GALLO IMAGES

Bidvest Wits went toe-to-toe with Mamelodi Sundowns in last night's brutal Absa Premiership encounter between the chasers of the league title at Bidvest Stadium and the reward for their bruises was a crucial 1-0 victory.

Sibusiso Vilakazi's sublime 78th-minute goal saw Wits leapfrog Sundowns into second place - just seven points behind Kaizer Chiefs, though having played one game more.

Wits coach Gavin Hunt fielded three of the toughest centrebacks in the league in his defence - Thulani Hlatshwayo, Kees Kwakman and Buhle Mkhwanazi.

The move countered a Sundowns side that usually enjoy cultured probes through the middle.

Fullbacks Onismor Bhasera and Siyabonga Nhlapo were pushed up as very effective attacking wingbacks. It was a Wits lineup that, player for player, had class written all over it.

But it was up against the Chelsea of South African football, Pitso Mosimane's physically imposing array of superstars and ballplayers.

The second- and third-placed teams both needed a win to keep in touch with Chiefs. Both sides came into the game 10 points behind the leaders, though Sundowns had a game in hand.

To some extent, it was a Joe Frasier-Muhammad Ali type of clash. But it lacked the finesse of these great fighters' epic bout.

That was until Vilakazi produced the piece of skill and refinement in front of goal that decided the game. The Students ended Sundowns' 15-match league and cup unbeaten run.

The opening 25 minutes were played at a breathtaking tempo, with angled passes across the field at an almost terrifying pace, though without breaching a defence.

In the 25th, Papy Faty of Wits finally did manage to work himself into space in the middle of the box but, off-balance, skewed wide of Denis Onyango's left upright.

That opened the game up, to some extent. Alje Schut's pass on the ground out of defence put Cuthbert Malajila through on the left. The striker squared but Kudawashe Mahachi was unable to get a touch.

The two sides continued to go at each other like freight trains into a titanium wall until the break.

After a desperate goalmouth scramble early in the second half Vilakazi mis-hit wide.

At the other end Mkhwanazi's backpass was intercepted by Malajila, but he could not capitalise when Moeneeb Josephs failed to collect.

Mahachi won the ball on the left in the 71st, advanced and pummelled one a foot over.

Vilakazi, whose silky skills had appeared lost in such an encounter, became the match-winner. Passed down the right by Siyabonga Nhlapo, the midfielder skilfully held the ball up and took it round Onyango, then finished into an open goal.

An even more classy movement, Vilakazi slipping Jabulani Shongwe down the left, and the midfielder blasting just over, could have made the game safe in the 82nd.

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