Marcos de Jesus proved to be Bidwest Wits University’s saviour as Kaizer Chiefs plummeted deeper into the Premier League mire after a 2-1 defeat at FNB Stadium on Wednesday night.
The nippy, Brazilian-born striker produced a goal in each half with the stealth of a jackdaw making off with a prized jewel and, recalled the stunning scoring feats in the NFL during the 1960s and 1970s of Walter da Silva, the great Brazilian scoring machine.
Haughty Chiefs, in the process, followed up four uneasy draws with a shock defeat in what constitutes one of Amakhosi’s most dismal starts to a PSL season.
De Jesus opened the score in the 44th minute with a masterly header and although Chiefs equalised a minute later, through a hotly disputed penalty from goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez, there was no containing Wits’ recently signed Brazilian striker.
With the Chiefs’ defence at sixes and sevens in the 60th minute, De Jesus glided the ball into the net following a cross from the left flank that gave Wits their first Premier League win of the season and three valuable points.
And even a triple substitution by coach Ernst Middendorp 10 minutes later, with Thabo Mooki, Luis Agyemang and David Mathebula coming on for Arthur Zwane, Tinashe Nengomasha and Siyabonga Nkosi, failed to rescue the Amakhosi.
Chiefs attacked desperately in the closing 20 minutes and enjoyed a territorial advantage for much of the game, but they were thwarted by a heroic performance from Wits goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs, who brought off a succession of breathtaking saves with his hands, body and legs and defied everything Chiefs could throw at him.
Aiding and abetting Josephs in defence was former Bafana Bafana stalwart and Wits University assistant coach Eric Tinkler, who came on as a 35th minute substitute for the injured Richard Gariseb and blotted out the Chiefs’ strike force.
Despite coming under severe pressure at times, Wits stuck stoically to a disciplined counter-attacking game and never lost their composure during a gritty and merited performance.
And the frustration of the Chiefs’ supporters in the 6 000 crowd knew no bounds as Middendorp was jeered at the final whistle and irrational supporters called for his head.
In other PSL games, Sundowns defeated Swallows 1-0, Supersport United drubbed Benoni United 5-0, Ajax overcame Black Leopards 2-1, Santos defeated Jomo Cosmos 1-0, Pirates went down to Maritzburg United 0-1, Silver Stars defeated AmaZulu 2-0 and Bloemfontein Celtic beat Golden Arrows 1-0 — Sapa