Wits University advanced to the last 16 of the Absa Cup knock-out competition when they beat Birds United 1-0 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on Saturday.
The visitors, Wits, led 1-0 at the break. Both sides showed commitment and dedication in a fast-paced first half, with the goal coming in just before the break when striker Marcos Dejesus hit the ball in the far left corner of the net.
United displayed little resistance to deny Wits a position in the last 16, as the ”clever boys” were well prepared to make sure that they see themselves advancing in stages.
United tried to throw all they had into their attack, but failed to break the alert defence. The score, however, is not the true reflection of the game because students up front wasted numerous scoring opportunities by shooting too high, even when they were faced with an empty net.
At the end, coach Boobie Solomons and his bench were happy when the final whistle blew.
Mighty fall
It was a case of ”how the mighty have fallen” for rampant Vodacom League leaders Mighty FC as they slithered to a 4-0 defeat against the Premier Soccer League’s Bloemfontein Celtic in a last-32 Absa Cup game at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday afternoon.
After scoring 52 goals in their 22 matches in what is effectively the third division, Mighty FC found the composure of their more experienced opponents a little too much to handle.
Taking advantage of some easy goal-scoring pickings, youthful striker Petros Mahlatsi completed a hat-trick well into injury time after scoring two of Celtic’s three first-half goals.
Mahlatsi opened the score in the 17th minute with a well-placed header before Percival Sikhakhane floated through the ball-watching Mighty FC defence to make the score 2-0 in the 23rd minute.
When Mahlatsi made the score 3-0 in the 37th minute, it seemed Celtic were set to complete a goal deluge.
But to the credit of the Vodacom League team, they proved quick learners, tightened their defence in the second half and were desperately unlucky not to score themselves as Celtic incurred moments of unexpected pressure. — Sapa