Reults: Bidvest Wits 1-0 Maritzburg United
Date: 01 February 2019
Venue: Bidvest Stadium
Absa Premiership leaders Bidvest Wits moved five points clear of second-place Orlando Pirates following a 1-0 win over Eric Tinkler's Maritzburg United.
Tinkler was put in charge of Maritzburg earlier this week after Muhsin Ertugral parted ways with the club after their Nedbank Cup loss to National First Division outfit Witbank Spurs.
Simon Murray was rewarded with a start for the Clever Boys after he netted a brace in last week's Nedbank Cup tie, while the likes of Darren Keet, Deon Hotto and Gabadinho Mhango returned to the side.
The host made a telling start to the encounter and were unlucky not to take the lead when Thulani Hlatshwayo rattled the post with a towering header inside the opening 10 minutes.
Maritzburg were the league's lowest scorers heading into the clash and it didn't look like changing when Justice Figareido was unable to fire past Darren Keet from close range at the midway point.
With the hosts struggling to break down the Maritzburg defence, Gavin Hunt opted to introduce veteran winger Elias Pelembe for Mhango at the start of the second stanza.
When Wits did manage to get past the visitors' defence, they were met by the impressive Ricard Ofori who produced a couple important saves to deny the likes Cole Alexander and Hotto.
Maritzburg's resistance was eventually broken with ten minutes remaining in the half, with Wits substitute Lehlohonolo Majoro rounding Ofori to slot home from close range.
Majoro was handed a chance to bag a brace when Wits were awarded a penalty on 87 minutes, however the striker saw his spot-kick saved by Ofori.
Nevertheless, the Clever Boys hung on to claim three points while Maritzburg remain rooted to the foot of the standings.
Here's how they lined up:
Wits: 16. Keet, 3. Hlatshwayo, 4. Nonyane, 15. Mkhwanazi, 13. Hlanti, 17. Alexander, 8. Monare, 19. Mhango (Pelembe 46'), 11. Hotto, 37. Dzvukamanja (Claasen 78'), 9. Murray (Majoro 64').
Subs: 23. Goss, 2. Mere, 36. Ritchie, 14. Claasen, 7. Pelembe, 24. Motupa, 45. Majoro.
Maritzburg: 31. Ofori, 36. Kunene, 25. Xulu, 23. De Reuck, 2. Onyango, 11. Makaringe (Fileccia 83'), 44. Zakri, 15. Matsi (Timm 76'), 8. Ndlovu, 22. Mokate, 17. Figareido (Sanoka 62').
Subs: 30. Mpandle, 25. Timm, 3. Sanoka, 26. Shandu, 20. Kutumela, 9. Fileccia, 28. Mekoa. GET MORE SPORT NEWS http://bit.ly/2D3tObO
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