Wits Go Down To Stars

Bidvest Wits title ambitions suffered a massive blow when they lost 3-1 to Free State Stars in an Absa Premiership match at Bidvest Stadium on Saturday night.

Wits controlled large portions of the game, but some poor defending combined with some clinical finishing from Richard Henyekane handed Stars the win.

Henyekane scored three goals on the night in a result that saw his side out of the relegation zone and up to 14^th place on the league table.

The home side started positively, but some poor finishing from the likes of Calvin Kadi in particular saw Wits struggling to breach a stubborn Free State defence.

Instead, the opening goal came at the other end of the park, very much against the run of play, after some great individual skill from Henyekane saw him find some space and produce an expert finish, 1-0.

Stars set their stall up in defence after that and held on for the 1-0 lead going into the break.

Wits controlled the game at the start of the second 45 as they looked to hit back, but again some poor finishing really cost them.

Stars suffered a bit of set-back on the hour mark when goalkeeper Tshepo Motsoeneng              had to leave the field injured and was replaced by Bruce Mtshali.

Ten minutes later, however, and Stars were smiling again when Henyekane made the most of a swift counter-attack to double his side’s lead, 2-0.

Wits’ night got even worse when Tebogo Moerane was sent form the field after receiving his second yellow card in the 88^th minute.

The result was put beyond doubt a minute later when Henyekane grabbed his third goal of the night after a goalmouth scramble, 3-0.

Wits did manage a consolation goal in the dying seconds of the match courtesy of Robin Ngalande, but it was too little too late, 3-1.

Bidvest Wits (0) 1 (Ngalande 89’)

Free State Stars (1) 3 (Henyekane 36’, 70’, 87’)

Teams

Wits: Josephs, Gumede, Kadi (Kebede 49’), Vilakazi (Ngalande 75’), Chapman, Faty, Nhlapo, Mngonyama (Langwe 64’), Shongwe, Moerane, Ntshangase

Free State: Motsoeneng (Mtshali 60’), Masehe, Ouro-Akoriko, Cardoso, Tlhoane, Kerspuy, Nomandela (King 73’), Sekola, Basie, Yende (Venter 65’), Henyakane