Result: Bidvest Wits 1-0 Black Leopards
Date: 10 March 2020
Venue: Bidvest Stadium
Bidvest Wits ended a run of three games without a win in the Absa Premiership after piling more misery on relegation-threatened Black Leopards.
Thabang Monare and Bienvenu Eva Nga returned to the line up for the Clever Boys, who failed to score in their last two league outings against Chippa United and SuperSport United.
The game got off a lively start as the hosts almost went in the 11th minute after Rotshidzwa Muleka's clearance was intercepted by Terrence Dzvukamanja, whose header sailed just wide of the mark, while Brandon Petersen kept out Thabo Matlaba's strike at the other end.
Gavin Hunt's charges took control as the half continued and were eventually rewarded on the half-hour mark thanks to a header by Dzvukamanja at the back post from Deon Hotto's well-weighted cross.
The hosts should have had a second goal just before the halftime break through the lively Hotto, who came close with a volleyed effort that nearly capped off a lively first half, where the visitors struggled to impose themselves going forward.
Hunt's charges came out with the same mentality in the second stanza, and Sekgota almost doubled their advantage just after the hour mark minute but the young attacker steered his effort just wide inches wide of the upright.
That was to Sekgota's last involvement, with the attacker making for veteran winger Elias Pelembe while Alan Clarke threw on Themba Ndlovu for Mncwango as Leopards went in search of an equaliser.
Leopards, however, were lucky not to fall further behind when Haashim Domingo rattled the crossbar just minutes before Pelembe was also denied by the woodwork in second-half stoppage time.
Nevertheless, the Clever Boys ran out winners on the night to move within ten points of leaders Kaizer Chiefs in sixth place while Lidoda Duvha were left rooted at the bottom of the log, three points from safety.
Wits: 1. Petersen, 13. Hlanti, 15. Mkhwanazi, 26. Gordinho, 14, Macheke, 17. Alexander, 8. Monare, 36. Sekgota, 11. Hotto, 37. Dzvukumanja, 19. Eva Nga.
Subs: 16. Mhlongo, 4. Nonyane, 11. Pelembe, 10. Domingo, 24. Nange, 25. Motupa, 28, Macuphu.
Leopards: 32. Muleka, 6. Mudau, 8. Matlaba, 13. Zulu, 29. Masia, 2. Gyimah, 5. Abubakar, 15. Bereng, 25. Mokoena, 11. Musonda, 19. Mncwango.
Subs: 16. Makinita, 24. Douhadji, 4. Khutlang, 12. Kapinga, 27. Ng'ambi, 17. Hlongwane, 31. Ndlovu.
