Maritzburg end Bidvest Wits’ unbeaten run

Bidvest Wits saw their impressive eight-match unbeaten run come to an end when they were shocked to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Maritzburg United in their Absa Premiership encounter at the Bidvest Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The Clever Boys put out another display that saw them dominate all areas on the park, however, there was nothing they could do to prevent Kurt Lentjies’ goal.

After having eliminated Kaizer Chiefs in the semi-final of the Nedbank Cup last season, Gavin Hunt’s side were hoping to use their confidence to end their run of three consecutive goalless draws.

Although, with one eye already looking towards the final against Orlando Pirates, Hunt opted to ring in quite a few notable changes in the line-up.

There was a great ebb and flow in the opening 15 minutes, with the ball moving steadily from one end of the field to the other with great fluidity, but neither side was able to produce a threat at goal.

Maritzburg did offer the first real danger at Dennis Oyango’s goal on 20 minutes. Maritzburg went on one of their trademark counter-attacks saw Heinrich Isaacks unleash a low shot from just inside the box that skipped out at the back post.

Siyabonga Nhlapo and Getaneh Kebede combined deliciously on the right flank before seeing the latter beat his marker and strike a curling effort straight into Shu-Aib Walters’ hands three minutes later.

Bidvest Wits started to step up the pace and they came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock just before the half hour. Kebede received the ball in the box and fired in a potent hit on the turn, only to see it whisk out inches wide and have the referee blow for offside.

Walters denied the Clever Boys again when he rushed off his line and close down Kebede’s shot inside the box, before Tebogo Moerane saw his cracker of an effort whisk over the crossbar from range.

Hunt’s charges came out attacking intent and they saw Ryan Chapman take aim at goal after the restart, however, it went narrowly wide of the post.

Kurt Lentjies then burst into the box and stung the side netting on the hour mark, before then failing to direct his glancing header into the back of the net moments later.

Maritzburg United took the lead against the run of play on 70 minutes when Lentjies pounced onto a cross, tapped the ball in past Onyango to make amends for his previous misses.

Sthembiso Ngcobo nearly responded with an equalizer 120 seconds later when he fired an effort from range that forced Walters to push it out for a corner, before then tipping over Nhlapo’s snapshot.

The Team of Choice ended the match with ten men after Terrance Mandaza was shown red for fighting with the home side’s players.

Bidvest Wits 0

Maritzburg United (0) 1 (Lentjies 70’)

Bidvest Wits: Onyango, Moerane, Booth (Mukamba 46’), Dankwae, Mngonyama, Isaacs, Nengomasha, Chapman (Ngalande 70’), Nhlapo, Lubelo (Ncgobo 70’), Kebede

Maritzburg United: Walters, Cloete, Awal (Booysen D 46’), Booysen M, Evans, Mkhize (Lentjies 39’), Hartog, Vilakazi, Sarfo Gyamfi (De Jongh 64’), Isaacks, Mandaza

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