/ 5 March 2008

Santos edge Wits in tight contest

Santos continued their fine form of late when they secured a 2-1 win over Wits at the Athlone Stadium on Tuesday night.

Wits started the game brightly and had early chances through Noah Chivuta, but his long-range shots did not have the beating of Wayne Roberts.

Santos then took the lead with what was their first chance of the game, with Eleazar Rodgers beating Moeneeb Josephs at the second attempt.

Rodgers soon had more chances to increase the lead, but shot straight at Josephs in the 22nd minute, and then failed to hit the target after a mistake by Neil Winstanley saw him through on goal.

A thunderous strike by Tawonga Chimodzi in the 29th minute looked likely to increase the Cape side’s lead, but his 35-yard effort rocked Josephs’s crossbar.

Santos started the second half strongly and had early chances through Erwin Isaacs, who blasted over the bar, and Romano Scott, who brought out a save from Josephs.

But as the half progressed, the Students fought back and nearly equalised in the 63rd minute when Marawaan Bantam struck the crossbar with a free kick.

The former Santos man seemed determined to score against his old team and found the back of the net three minutes later when he headed home Bruin Senokane’s free kick.

A draw seemed to be on the cards, but with four minutes of regulation time to go, Rodgers swooped for his second goal, firing home from a tight angle after a cross by Ricardo Skippers. — Sapa