Clever Boys dent Chiefs’ title hopes

Bidvest Wits put a sever dent in Kaizer Chiefs’ title aspirations with their 0-0 Absa Premiership draw at Bidvest Wits Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Gavin Hunt’s men hit the upright and saw a goal by Sthembiso Ngcobo disallowed in the second-half as they sit four points of second place.

Bidvest Wits came into the game looking to further tighten their grip on third place and, at the same time, cause a potential upset to Chiefs’ aspirations of defending their league title.

Chiefs came out showing some evident intention to grab an early goal and their first effort on target came on five minutes through Kingston Nkhatha. The Zimbabwean’s snapshot should have been easy pickings for Moeneeb Josephs, but he uncharacteristically saw it go through his arms, only to recover immediately.

The Clever Boys then started to apply some pressure through the fancy footwork of Papy Faty and Sibusiso Vilakazi as they went in search of the opening goal.

Then, on 23 minutes, Chiefs were handed a chance to break the deadlock from a free-kick on the edge of the area. Bernard Parker, who hadn’t scored in 12 games, stepped up to the spot where George Lebese was fouled and curled in an effort that saw Josephs superbly parry it away from danger.

The encounter was showcasing some great end-to-end football but Papy Faty then sailed in an effort that went well wide of target on 33 minutes and it left Gavin Hunt ruing the shot.

Bidvest Wits came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock six minutes from half time when Sthembiso Ngcobo’s header from Jabulani Shongwe’s corner shaved a coat of paint off the woodwork.

The Braamfontein outfit got the second-half off to a flying start when Asive Langwe burst into the box and rattled the upright with a left-footed strike. That move ultimately sparked the start of a great period of dominance from the home side, but they could not capitalize.

George Maluleka and Katlego Mphela were then thrown into the mix for the Glamour Boys, and the latter came painfully close to snatching a late winner with his 89^th minute with his header hitting the woodwork.

Bidvest Wits: (0) 0

Kaizer Chiefs: (0) 0

Bidvest Wits: Josephs, Gumede, Langwe (Cadi 69’), Vilakazi, Faty, Ngcobo (Madubanya 90’), Nhlapo, Bhasera, Mngonyama, Shongwe (Isaacs 78’), Ntshangase

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Gaxa, Mathoho, Mashamaite, Masilela, Katsande, Letsholonyane, Tshabalala, Lebese (Maluleka 70’), Parker, Nkhatha (Mphela 79’)

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