Bidvest Wits dropped valuable points in their bid for Absa Premiership glory as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Highlands Park at Bidvest Stadium in Braamfontein on Wednesday evening.
Goals from Haashim Domingo and Thulani Hlatshwayo fired the Clever Boys in front following Mothobi Mvala’s opener, but Peter Shalulile’s late penalty earned the visitors a point.
The result moves Wits level on points with fourth placed SuperSport United and 11 points behind leaders Kaizer Chiefs but with two games in hand. Highlands move up one place on the log standings seventh, two places and four points behind Wits.
The visitors dominated the opening exchanges with the rain bucketing down and got their just reward in the 27th minute as Mvala nodded home from close range. Luckyboy Mokoena picked out his teammate with an inch-perfect cross and the Lions of the North skipper was never going to miss with the goal at his mercy.
Highlands should’ve doubled their lead four minutes later after Mokoena picked out Shalulile’s run into the area, but Brandon Petersen got down well to make a superb save in denying the Namibian forward.
The hosts, though, were able to level matters before the break and did so with the last kick of the half. Lorenzo Gordinho’s header fell to Domingo on the edge of the area and the midfielder’s rasping shot whistled past Marlon Heugh and into the back of the net.
Wits pulled ahead five minutes after the break as Hlatshwayo slid the ball under the onrushing Heugh from an acute angle.
The Clever Boys were completely dominant at this point and should’ve doubled their lead before Hlatshwayo brought down Shalulile inside the area. The forward dusted himself off and hammered the ball home with four minutes of regulation time remaining and the visitors would hold on to conjure a valuable point.
Bidvest Wits (1) 2 (Domingo 45+2′ Hlatshwayo 50′)
Highlands Park (1) 2 (Mvala 27′ Shalulile 86′)
Bidvest Wits: Petersen; Hlatshwayo, Mkhwanazi, Gordinho, Hlanti, Nange, Monare, Domingo (Doutie 46′), Pelembe (Dzvukamanja 89′), Hotto, Eva Nga (Macuphu 46′).
Highlands Park: Heugh; Mokoena (Munyai 81′), Mbhele, Fransman, Banda, Mzava, Letsholonyane (Rae 46′), Mvala, Motsepe, Mbatha (Mogaila 57′), Shalulile.©
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
