Wits sneak-in to keep title defence on track
JOBURG -– Most of the so-called bigger sides of the Absa Premiership have made it to the quarter-finals of the Telkom Knockout.
Absa Premiership table-topping Bidvest Wits sneaked into the quarter-finals of the Telkom Knockout with a slender 1–0 win over Free State Stars at the Goble Park Stadium in Bethlehem.
The win was courtesy of a solitary strike from Scottish forward Simon Murray. The Clever Boys, as Wits are fondly known, then defended the goal with all their lives against a determined Ea Lla Koto.
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The Free Staters were thrice unlucky as they hit the woodwork twice and ballooned another effort over the crossbar.
In other fixtures, Highlands Park scored first just before halftime through the boot of dependable Moeketsi Sekola, to give the Lions of the North the lead against Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.
But the Lions then lost concentration and allowed Maritzburg United back into the game with the hosts running out 2–1 winners.
Soweto giants Orlando Pirates sneaked in with a 1–0 win over Chippa United at the iconic Orlando Stadium in Orlando East, courtesy of a Vincent Pule strike. Mamelodi Sundowns did equally the same against Bloemfontein Celtic from a lone strike by Uruguayan Gastón Sirino.
Baroka FC downed Lamontville Golden Arrows 2–0 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Limpopo.
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Both SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs left it to the 11th hour to win on penalties to advance to the quarter-finals.
SuperSport beat Polokwane City after scoring a sudden death penalty after the two teams had matched each other by scoring five each in the regular shootout. City ballooned their sudden death penalty over the crossbar.
Chiefs went through after Black Leopards missed two of their penalties and the Soweto giants only missed one.
