OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Friday 11.00PM.
A LAST-MINUTE goal by Zambian striker Joseh Chikoti on Friday night at the Milpark Stadium assured Wits University of a place in the quarterfinals of the Rothmans Cup.
The sides drew 0-0 in their first leg clash at George Goch Stadium and in Friday’s encounter went into the break on a 0-0 stalemate.
It was a disappointing evening for Swallows, who played their hearts out for almost three quarters of the first half. They defended and created numerous scoring chances, but unexpectedly lost to the students, who never gave up trying.
Defender-cum-midfielder Jackonia Cibi came close in the 18th minute but his 25m scorcher went over the top while Wits keeper Roger de Sa thwarted Jacob Lekgetho in the 30th minute.
A few minutes later Lekgetho was back but his shot bounced off a defender for a corner from which Joseph Rapelego fired wide. Lekgetho was booked in the 34th minute, followed by Wits’ Chancey Gondwe in the 40th minute. Four minutes later Stanton Fredericks was shown a yellow card for dissent by referee Robin Williams.
Chikoti, who missed a sitter in the fifth minute, should have at least made up for his miss when he received a cross from Marks Maponyane. But hesitancy in front of keeper Wendell Robinson robbed him of the opportunity to redeem himself.
Roan Malgue was booked for an off-the-ball incident involving Molefi Ntsoelongoe in the 47th minute. Wits Coach Eddie Lewis introduced Gerald Devine for Sidwell Maboe in an attempt to bolster his forwards.
Cibi dribbled past a number of players and fed Josia Nnete with a through pass, but Nette failed to make his way past impressive defender Kevin Rafferty.
Maponyane was replaced by Brendan Hannan in the 69th minute. Mahlomola Ntshabele came on for William Lerefolo. Inspired by the change Swallows immediately came close, but Lekgetho’s was unable to make it count.
It was then that Swallows coach Jayr Mazzoni introduced Alex Monau for Nnete in the 83rd minute. The duo of Monau and Cibi immediately produced some entertaining soccer. They forced Wits to backpedal, but still failed to break free from the stubborn defence of the students.
Against the run of play, the students saw Hannan playing the ball through to Chikoti who beat Robinson with a perfect tap to give his side a 1-0 win.
10