On a rather cold winter’s evening in Johannesburg, Wits and UWC played to a goalless draw at the Bidvest Stadium in Braamfontein.
The opening exchanges saw both teams start off with a bit of a cagey affair. As soon as both teams seemed to settle into a rhythm, it was the visitors who looked more threatening after the 20-minute mark, but Wits keeper Brylon Petersen looked in top form in between the sticks, keeping his team in the game after a few shots were sent his way.
The home side, however, did get a few shot of their own but they weren’t good enough to break the deadlock as both teams headed into the break with the score at 0-0.
The second half promised to be more exciting when both teams took to the pitch. The half got underway with the hosts looking a lot more dangerous going forward but the UWC defence remained solid at the back.
UWC keeper Brent Layman also stood strong in goal to keep his boys in the game with Wits’ Mathonsi orchestrating a lot of the Wits moves from midfield. In the dying minutes of the game, Wits almost made 1-0 but it wasn’t to be as the ball was cleared well by the UWC defence.
The resulting clearance turned into a counter attack but the Wits defenders made it back in time to clear the danger. Not much happened after UWC’s counter attack which meant both teams had to settle for a point each with the game finishing 0-0.
FNB Man of the Match: Brylon Pieterson (Wits)
Teams:
Wits XI: Brylon Petersen, Snethemba Msane, Kaizer Maphanga, Obert Rukato, Baliwe Moyakhe, Tristan Gatter, Luke Perreira, Saluleko Mathonsi, Mahle Mtabane, Shaun Matintela, Greame Dor
Subs: Josia Pooe, Jamie Ionnides, Jauhar Gilbert, Mahudu Seageng, Hlohonolofatso Mahate, Lyndon Crouch, Tshireletso Motsogi
UWC XI: Brent Layman, Keenan Davis, Clinton Herwel, Ayanda Nkunkwana, Masibulele Maseti, Eathon Swart, Ryan Steer, Suhayl Allie, Josh Silent, Phiwokuhle Mphalala, Aghmat Ceres
Subs: Renald Leaner, John-Nathan Oppelt, Giovani Gaffoor, Andile Phango, Jason Britz , Kwanele Nocanda, Lukho Phikela
By Sifiso Nyawo
