MTN 8 Final - Wits too 'clever' for Sundowns

Wits came out of the blocks flying and were 1-0 up after just 35 seconds of the start when Daine Klate finished sweetly. Minutes later, Elias Pelembe played in Klate, but, this time, the winger’s attempt was blocked by the Sundowns defence.

The influential Klate then had another opportunity, after being released into space by Gabadinho Mhango, but he fired over the bar. With Wits in inspired mood, it was inevitable that they would score again – and it came in the 20th minute as Eleazar Rodgers netted after Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango failed to gather a cross.

Sundowns finally got their game going after the initial Wits onslaught. They found their groove and kicked into the flowing style they are known for. Keagan Dolly, Anthony Laffor and Tiyani Mabunda started to influence proceedings as the Tshwane team looked to get on the scoresheet and get itself back into the game. Dolly almost pulled one back, but his excellent free-kick flew narrowly wide of the top corner.

It was all Sundowns with regard to possession and territory in the opening stages of the second half, but Wits remained threatening on the counter (attack).

Mabunda had two shots at goal, but, with Sundowns pouring men forward in search of a goal, they left themselves short at the back. It was on one such break that Rodgers darted down the flank, crossed, and it was that man Klate again who slid in for the Joburg side’s third goal of the match.

Despite Sundowns passing and probing, they just couldn’t find a way beyond the solid, compact defensive organisation of the Clever Boys. In fact, with the chances Wits had, Sundowns were fortunate to only come away with a 3-0 defeat – it could have been so much worse. In the end, when the referee blew the final whistle to put Sundowns out of their misery, it signalled a well-deserved win for Wits.

Klate, who was named Man of the Match, said: “If anyone deserved the man of the match, it’s our coach (Gavin Hunt)… he’s been fantastic since coming to Wits. We played with no fear, this was the occasion we were waiting for and it was a great team performance out there. I’m just happy to have contributed to the success.”

Victorious Wits coach Gavin Hunt said his entire team was magnificent.

“It was a great occasion for the club, but this is just the start,” said Hunt. “I’ve been here three or four years and we are trying to build something. We just need to keep feeding it, keep on working…”

Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane said he was proud of his team’s performance, but added that it was a deserved win for Wits.

“They scored the two goals in such a short space of time that it was always difficult to come back,” said Mosimane. “But we tried, we showed character, but you can’t win them all.”