WITS EDGE BAKGAGA, MOVE TOP
Bidvest Wits have reclaimed their spot atop the Absa Premiership standings following 2-1 win over Baroka FC at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday afternoon.
Lehlohonolo Majoro and Deon Hotto found the back of the net for the visitors, who move level on points with Orlando Pirates, but above the Buccaneers on goal difference.
Tebogo Sodi scored what proved a mere consolation for the Limpopo side who remain rooted to the bottom of the log standings.
The Clever Boys, fuelled by the desire to move top and eager to exact revenge for their Telkom Knockout defeat at the same venue, came firing out the blocks with Majoro sending an early attempt into the side-netting.
The visitors continued to turn the screw and went close once more in the 20th minute, as Frank Mhango darted in behind the Bakgaga defence before blasting his volley attempt over the crossbar.
Majoro had the ball in the back of the net on the half-hour mark, but his joy was short-lived with the assistant’s flag rightfully raised for offside.
The visitors continued to dominate proceedings, bossing every facet of the game and they were finally rewarded on the cusp of halftime, in the second minute of added time.
Deon Hotto’s glancing header wrong-footed the Baroka defence and found Majoro who fired home on the volley past a helpless Elvis Chipezeze, for his first goal of the season.
Bakgaga finally registered an attempt on target in the 56th minute as Jemondre Dickens rose highest in the box before guiding a header on goal, but Darren Keet was well positioned to make a great save.
The stop proved of extra importance as the Clever Boys doubled their lead three minutes later through Hotto. The Namibia international latching onto a perfectly weighted cross from Elias Pelembe with a rasping left-footed finish.
Baroka made for a nervy ending as Sodi headed home in the 80th minute following a pin-point cross by Thabiso Semenya.
Bidvest Wits were dealt another blow moments later as Thulani Hlatshwayo was forced off the field with a nasty head injury. Having already made all three of their substitutions, the visitors had to end the game with 10 men.
Baroka duly pressed forward in search of the equaliser, but Bidvest Wits held firm to claim all three points.
Baroka FC (0) 1 (Sodi 80′)
Bidvest Wits (1) 2 (Majoro 45+2′ Hotto 59′)
Baroka: Chipezeze; Semenya, Sibiya, Makume (Banda 30′), Gebhardt, Mabeba (Makgantai 54′), Mdantsane, Mosele, Chawaphiwa, Sodi, Dickens (Chivaviro 70′).
Bidvest Wits: Keet; Mere, Hlatshwayo, Nonyane, Hlanti, Hotto (Johannes 85′), Claasen (Ritchie 76′), Alexander, Pelembe, Mhango (Dzvukamanja 77′), Majoro.
