Bidvest Wits 2-1 AmaZulu: PSL highlights and results

Bidvest Wits beat Amazulu 2-1 in their PSL fixture at the FNB Stadium on Friday 21 August 2020.

Bidvest Wits vs Amazulu: PSL Match report

Bidvest Wits made a probing start, but neither side looked likely to open the scoring in the first five minutes.

Amazulu were afforded the first clear-cut scoring chance when Bongi Ntuli snuck ahead of Lorenzo Gordinho, but the defender did enough to put off the golden boot contender.

Wits were patient in their build-up play while Amazulu looked to get the ball forward quickly and got some joy down their left flank.

A snap-shot from Sphesihle Maduna could have given Amazulu a shock lead after 15 minutes, but he couldn’t direct his shot goalwards.

Ricardo Goss rushed out of his area in the 18th minute but was lucky to see Amazulu commit a foul with the goal standing open. Gordinho was lucky to avoid giving away a free kick on the edge of the area as he appeared to handle, Maduna’s shot.

Nange very nearly found Sekgota just before the water break, but his ball was just too strong for the onrushing midfielder, at the time it had been Wits best chance to get on the board. Despite dominating possession, Wits looked vulnerable to Amazulu’s direct play.

Thapelo Xoki will miss the next match after bringing down Nange after the Wits winger got the better of him in the final third and earned his eighth yellow card of the season.

The subsequent free-kick was teased in, but no Wits attacker could get the vital touch and Amazulu survived.

Xoki’s centre back defensive mate Mario Booysen will also miss the next match after a rash challenge on Eva Nga.

Wits piled on the pressure late in the half but continued to be imprecise and wasteful in front of goal.

Magubane had a penalty shout turned down after a lightning-quick counter from Amazulu, but the referee was not interested.

Siyethemba Sithebe forced a save out of Goss with a late free-kick, but the sides went into the break locked at 0-0.

Wits enjoyed 64 per cent of the ball in the first half but managed just one shot at goal which missed the target. Amazulu unleashed three shots, but only Sithebe’s effort was on target.

Half time

Maduna created the first chance of the second half as Amazulu contested every ball, he won a corner after stealing the ball off the Wits defence and crossing early. 

Cole Alexander tested Siyabonga Mbatha in the Amazulu goal for the first time in the match. The keeper got a strong hand to the effort, and Usuthu dealt with the corner that followed.

Another long-range effort from Rowan Human did not trouble Mbatha, but the second half was off to a rollicking start.

Talent Chawapiwa blasted a very good opportunity badly wide after Amazulu looked like they would expose Bidvest Wits on the break.

In the 11th minute of the second half, Sithebe hit a shot from the edge of the box well wide and an element of frustration began to show among the Amazulu players.

Human was the first man to a loose ball in the 58th minute and poked his shot beyond Mbatha to give Bidvest Wits the lead after Macheke carved open Amazulu and Nange’s touch left the ball bobbling enticingly.

Watch: Human gives Bidvest Wits a 1-0 lead

Wits take the lead through Human!

The striker pounces on a loose ball to smash home and make it 1-0 after 60 minutes.

Watch live: https://t.co/RYwm9aZlb5#SSDiski pic.twitter.com/dpXeYJFfdz

— SuperSport ? (@SuperSportTV) August 21, 2020

Alexander was booked for a studs up challenge that took Maduna out of the game leaving Usuthu without their player of the match so far.

Macheke created another great chance seven minutes later but Nange couldn’t reach his cross, and Human lost a race to the ball to Mbatha.

Deon Hotto came off the bench and attempted a backheel with his first touch and scored with a left-footed shot with his third after being put in by Nange.

Watch: Hotto makes it 2-0 to Wits

Goals from Human and Hotto hands Bidvest Wits a 2-1 victory over AmaZulu, which sees them leapfrog Pirates into 4th on the #AbsaPrem log. Usuthu remain in 15th spot.#SSDiski pic.twitter.com/PD4xpCNZPE

— SuperSport ? (@SuperSportTV) August 21, 2020

Dzvukamanja forced a good save out of Mbatha who was in great form in goal despite conceding twice, showing Bidvest Wits were keen to build on their two-goal lead in the 78th minute of the match.

Majoro made the game interesting with a brilliant finish after a sweeping Amazulu move that cut Wits lead in half. It would remain 2-1 until the final whistle though leaving Usuthu in a precarious position.

Bidvest Wits move up into fourth on the PSL log behind SuperSport United (third) on goal difference while Amazulu have been left in the relegation-playoff spot of 15th.

Maritzburg United await Bidvest Wits on Monday while Amazulu will also be in action against Bloemfontein Celtic.

Bidvest Wits squad

Starting XI: Goss; Hlanti, Gordinho, Hlatshwayo, Macheke, Alexander, Nange, Monare, Sekgota, Human, Eva Nga.

Subs: Mhlongo, Hotto, Doutie, Ritchie, Phillips, Dzvukamanja, Mathebula, September, Mlonyeni.

Amazulu squad

Starting XI: Mbatha, Masilela, Xoki, Booysen, M.Gumede, Darpoh, Sithebe, Maduna, Magubane, Chawapihwa, Ntuli.

Subs: Boshoff, Sikhkakhane, Mabiliso, Ncube, Ncobeni, Lacny, Magaqa, Majoro, De Jong.