Gavin Hunt, Coach of Bidvest Wits during the Absa Premiership 2019/20 match between Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits at the Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg on the 15 August 2020 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Bidvest Wits 0-0 Golden Arrows: PSL highlights and results
Bidvest Wits’ hopes of finishing in the PSL’s top three were dealt another blow after failing to pick up maximum points against Golden Arrows.
Gavin Hunt, Coach of Bidvest Wits during the Absa Premiership 2019/20 match between Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits at the Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg on the 15 August 2020 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Bidvest Wits and Golden Arrows played out to a disappointing goalless draw in their PSL encounter at the FNB Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
Both teams passed up on the opportunity to earn their first victory in the PSL since the restart of football in the country following the five-month long COVID-19 enforced break.
Bidvest Wits 0-0 Golden Arrows: PSL match report
Golden Arrows started the brighter of the two PSL teams with Michael Gumede hitting the woodwork in as early as the third minute before Devine Lunga’s powerful effort was parried away for a corner by Bidvest Wits goalkeeper Ricardo Goss.
Lunga also become the first player to receive a yellow card in the PSL clash at the FNB Stadium after crashing into Mxolisi Machupu in the fifth minute. Deon Hotto thought he was through to give Bidvest Wits the lead in the ninth minute however Golden Arrows goalkeeper Sifiso Mlungwana was quick to react and avert any danger.
Watch: Machupu denied by the crossbar
Mxolisi Macuphu almost put Bidvest Wits ahead in the 21st minute with a looping header however he was denied by the crossbar after beating the Golden Arrows goalkeeper keeping the PSL match goalless.
Both Bidvest Wits and Golden Arrows pushed for the opening goal during a high-intensity first half of their PSL clash however they headed into the half-time break deadlocked at 0-0.
Golden Arrows’ Ntsako Makhubela received a yellow card in the 56th minute for sweeping through Bidvest Wits attacking midfielder Rowan Human. Haashim Domingo went close from the resulting freekick with a curling effort that sailed just wide of the goal.
Golden Arrows should have taken the lead in the 70th minute of the PSL clash through Sibiya who failed to finish from close range after being setup by Knox Mutizwa however Bidvest Wits’ Ricardo Goss pulled off a fine reflex save to keep the PSL match goalless.
Keagan Ritchie came close in the 84th minute from another well taken freekick for the Clever Boys however Mlungwana stood firm in goal to keep the scoreline level.
Both teams ultimately lacked their killer instinct on the day with the match ending in a goalless stalemate. The draw means Wits remain in fifth place on the log standings while Arrows remain in ninth on 33 points.
PSL starting XI’s
Bidvest Wits XI: Goss, Hlatshwayo, Monare, Hotto, Hlanti, Mkhwanazi, Alexander, Macheke, Macuphu, Human, Sekgota
Subs: Mhlongo, Domingo, Nange, Eva Nga, Ritchie, Phillips, Mathebula, September, Mlonyeni
Golden Arrows XI: Mlungwana, S. Dube, Sibisi, Mathiane, Makhubela, L. Dube, Phiri, Mtshali, Gumede, Mutizwa
Subs: Sibanda, Ndlovu, Nkombelo, Zuke, Conco, Sibiya, Lamola, Sabelo, Parusnath
