NWU-Pukke bagged their second win in a row when they edged Wits 1-0 at the Fanie du Toit Sport Grounds in Potchefstroom on Monday.
The win moved them to the top of the Varsity Football standings after three rounds, however, UWC can still overtake them with a win against WSU on Thursday.
Pukke were immediately under pressure from the first whistle with the Wits’ attack causing them all types of problems in their final third. The home side were not prepared to be on the back foot at their home ground with Kagiso Pitso showing some good touches on attack to give his team some momentum.
It was Pitso’s younger brother, Gontse, who nearly opened the scoring with his shot sailing over the crossbar after a great build up by the Potch team.
After a foul by Kagiso Pitso, from which he earned a yellow card, Wits’ striker Mahle Mtabane had a crack at goal from a free kick, but his shot was off target.
With the half hour mark approaching it was the home team who finally broke the deadlock when Katlego Sephakwe fired in a shot to give his team the lead.
The home side were full of confidence after that goal and nearly added a second when a shot went wide after another great build up by the Potch team’s midfield. Pukke goalkeeper Mojalefa Magabe also helped his team end the half on a high note when stopped Wits from equalising with a great save.
The second half started slowly with both teams unable to find their way to the opposition goal posts. Wits were looking more frustrated though as they desperately tried to find their free flowing attacking game.
The team from Johannesburg gradually found their rhythm as the half went on and started getting more of the possession as they tried to find a way back into the game. Despite this it was Pukke who almost doubled their lead when Gontse Pitso’s shot went passed the upright.
With his team unable to find a breakthrough, Wits’ head coach Karabo Mogudi then looked to Round Two goal scoring hero Graeme Dor to make a difference off the bench.
As Wits went in search of the equaliser, Pukke sniffed a chance to increase their lead on the counter and they almost did with a chance in the final minutes of the game.
It was a scrappy affair in the closing minutes with both teams getting a yellow card each. Sephakwe’s goal proved to be enough in the end as Pukke hanged on to win their first home game of the season.
Samsung Super Striker: Katlego Sephakwe
FNB Man of the Match: Katlego Sephakwe
Scorers:
For NWU-Pukke: Katlego Sephakwe
For Wits: None
Yellow cards:
For NWU-Pukke: Kagiso Pitso, Patrick Lebitsa
For Wits: TBC, Aleksandar Kocic, Mahle Mtabane
Teams:
NWU-Pukke: 32 Mojalefa Magabe, 16 Tumelo Mosimane, 20 Tebogo Monyebodi, 23 Kutloano Nkwe, 5 Bonginkosi Mnyamane, 14 Smangaliso Radebe, 12 Katlego Sephakwe, 8 Gontse Pitso, 7 Kagiso Pitso, 6 Dumisani Nhlapo, 11 Patrick Lebitsa.
Substitutes: 1 Johannes le Grange, 13 Mosa Matshego, 21 Thabo Mokhele, 17 Evan Stegen, 18 Hlalefo Pallo, 4 March Skosana, 10 Thabang Matlhoko.
Wits: 1 Brylon Petersen, 18 Samkelo Thutshini, 8 Hope Munyai, 5 Kaizer Maphanga, 12 Phuthi Leboho, 9 Gift Baloyi, 15 Muzimkhulu Nhlengethwa, 22 Vuyo Qwesha, 7 Wonderboy Frank, 27 Hlohonolofatso Mahate, 10 Mahle Mtabane.
Replacements: 25 Zawadi Dlamini, 14 Graeme Dor, 4 Aleksandar Kocic, 11 Neo Makua, 3 Saluleko Mathonsi, 6 Innocent Magasela, 23 Crouch Lyndon.
