Wits end Maritzburg’s unbeaten run
Calvin Kadi’s goal on the hour mark was enough to give BidVest a crucial 1-0 away win over Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Friday night in an Absa Premiership match in Pietermaritzburg.
In the sixth minute Maritzburg keeper Shu-aib Walters was forced into a good save when Calvin Kadi hit a good shot from near the edge of the penalty box, but the keeper parried the shot for a corner.
The dull first half had a rare bright spark when former Santos midfielder Erwin Isaacs had a chance to score from a dead ball situation from 20-yards, but he could only send his free kick effort over the bar in the 28th minute.
In the 36th minute the home side suffered a terrible blow when Mthokozisi Yende had his participation in the match prematurely ended after a harsh tackle dished out by veteran Wits defender Aaron Mokoena.
A minute before the interval the home side should have taken the lead when Delron Buckley’s defence splitting pass found Orlando Smeekes on the left side, but the bulky attacker could only blast his shot over the bar from with only the keeper to beat.
In the 51st minute BidVest Wit’s Papyy Faty took a shot from 30-yards, but his strike just went over the bar with Walters looking well beaten.
In the 62nd minute BidVest benefitted from some indecision from Maritzburg keeper Walters when he let a ball pass him through and Kadi stroked home from a tight angle to make it 1-0 to the Clever Boys.
Two minutes later the away side should have made it 2-0 when Bryce Moon sent in a decent cross down the right-wing, but Kadi could only direct his header inches beyond the far post.
Maritzburg tried to equalise in the dying minutes of the match, but all was in vain as the Clever Boys hung on for the full three points and their first ever away win over Maritzburg United.
The loss sees The Team of Choice surrender their unbeaten record for the season with Antonio Habbas’ Wits side collecting their first win of the season on the road.
Maritzburg United (0)0
BidVest Wits (0)1 Kadi 62’
Teams:
Maritzburg United: Walters, Cloete, Evans, Booysen M, Morton, Awal, Buckley, Hendricks (Sarfo Gyamfi 70’), Smeekes, Yende (Mandaza 36’), Malajila
Bidvest Wits: Hoffman, Mayinga, Mokoena, Isaacs (Sibande 67’) Sweswe, Moon, Nato, Pattison, Faty (Chapman 89’), Seedat, Kadi (Koapeng 79’)
