Jomo Cosmos ran a plodding Wits University ragged during a 4-0 Premier Soccer League (PSL) drubbing at a steamy, sun-scorched Bidvest Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon.
There was no respite for Wits against speedy, lithe foes who tore their defence to shreds with an endless number of telling counter-attacks after a goalless opening period.
In the process, Wits surrendered their unbeaten home record this season and squandered an inviting opportunity of assuming the lead in what has now emerged a tantalising, nine-team race for the PSL championship following log leaders Silver Stars’ defeat by Moroka Swallows.
Although Cosmos only scored three times in the final 15 minutes — when Wits had been reduced to 10 men after Abram Raselemane was sent off — they were better organised, faster to the ball and a good deal more inventive and enterprising than their bemused opponents for much of the proceedings.
The wide gaps in the Wits’ defence were almost embarrassing for a side claiming professional status, and former Bafana Bafana players Phil Evans and veteran Eric Tinkler were often left chasing shadows by the likes of Liberian Anthony Laffor and Dikgang ”The Terminator” Mabalane.
Laffor was here, there and everywhere and had a hand in Calvin Kadi’s opening goal for Cosmos with a calculated shot into the roof of the net in the 57th minute.
Laffor and Mabalane were rewarded for their inspirational play with a goal apiece. Former Wits star Alois Bunjira scored the second goal for Cosmos soon after coming on to the field as a second-half substitute.
So leaky was Wits’ defence that Moeneeb Josephs was regularly left playing a lone hand in trying to curb the Cosmos marauders. Without some breathtaking heroics from the Wits goalkeeper, the tally could easily have amounted to half-a-dozen goals or so.
Wits’ tactics — or lack of them — played into Cosmos’ hands, although a couple of dicey decisions from referee Ace Ncobo hardly helped the Students’ plight.
Also disappointing was Wits’ much-vaunted Brazilian striker Marcos de Jesus, who spent much of the match resting on his laurels and his backside while making vain appeals for free kicks — before being replaced in the 70th minute.