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Winning start for Wits
27/08/2008 22:50 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Wits got their 2008/09 Absa Premiership season off to a winning start beating a listless Santos 2-0 at the Bidvest Stadium on Wednesday night.
Former Winners Park striker Phikolethu Spelman netted just after the half-hour mark and Marawaan Bantam scored from the penalty spot to give the Clever Boys a deserved victory.
Eleazor Rodgers had the first real scoring chance after 22 minutes when Richard Rantjie handled the ball in the big box. Wits newest keeper Energy Murambadoro taunted the SA Under-23 striker before he took the kick and then made a save that livened up the Wits faithful.
Wits upped the tempo a little bit and new signing Clifford Mulenga got the crowd crowing when he hit the far post with a powerful drive in the 36th minute with Santos keeper Lee Langeveldt beaten hands down.
A minute later Rantjie sent in a corner kick that another Wits debutant - Spelman - headed home.
Former Santos playmaker Bantam was on song in midfield and distributed some telling passes to Spelman and co upfront.
Stamped their authority
Santos's Bongi Macala fouled Mulenga in the box and Bantam then doubled his side's lead, sending Langeveldt the wrong way from the spot and Wits took their deserved lead in to the break.
Santos started the second half in a sprightly manner but gradually faded as the Clever Boys stamped their authority on the game. Wits captain Sibusiso Mahlangu controlled the midfield with aplomb while Santos's attacking duo of Rodgers and Irwin Isaacs were kept quiet by Neil Winstanley's organised defence.
Upfront Mulenga and Spelman were guilty of being too selfish on separate occasions, going for goal themselves when team-mates were in better positions to score.
In the 70th minute referee Buyile Gqubule gave Santos another penalty but five minutes before this he denied Wits a spot kick which infuriated coach Roger De Sa.
Santos's Wayne Arendse was seemingly fouled in the box and although Rodgers netted from the melee, the ref pointed to the spot and Isaacs, Santos's top scorer last season, blasted his spot kick high over Murambadoro's goal.
Jurie Basie came close to scoring twice for the visitors but was offside for his first effort and inches wide for his second attempt.
Wits go top of the log after Ajax Cape Town and Maritzburg United drew 1-1 in the night's other fixture.
- SAPA
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