Wits dumped out of Champions League

The Clever Boys beat the Angolan champions 1-0 at Bidvest Stadium, through a brilliant strike from Elias Pelembe, meaning the tie finished 1-1 on aggregate after 90 minutes and headed straight to penalties.

Lehlohonolo Majoro, Elias Pelembe and Daine Klate failed to score any of Wits’ first three spot kicks in the shoot out however, and while Wits goalkeeper Darren Keet also saved two penalties from Primeiro, Geraldo kept his cool to net the Angolan side’s fifth kick and send them through to the Champions League group stages for the first time ever.

Wits will now drop down to the final qualifying round of the Caf Confederation Cup, having failed to make it to the Champions League group stages at the last hurdle for the second successive year.

Wits had goalkeeper Kyle Peters out suspended, so regular number one Keet started this one, while Edwin Gyimah partnered Thulani Hlatshwayo in the heart of the Clever Boys defence, with Buhle Mkhwanazi out injured. In attack, Majoro led the line with Pelembe, Sifiso Myeni and Vincent Pule in support.

Wits, however, battled to break down a resilient Primeiro, who did brilliantly to cut off the wide areas, and when the balls did come into the box, they also dealt well with any aerial threat.

Primeiro goalkeeper Adilson Cipriano was only tested in the first half with a Pule free kick that he caught easily under his bar. Five minutes before the break, Wits did threaten as Sifiso Hlanti’s cross found Hlatshwayo, but he headed wide.

Primeiro missed a glorious chance to score on the stroke of half time as forward Geraldo, who netted the winner in Luanda, broke clear but Keet came off his line to make a fine block.

Gavin Hunt made a change at half time, bringing on striker Thobani Mncwango for Myeni. But it initially made little difference as Wits continued to struggle to find a way through, or even create a decent chance.

The Clever Boys did threaten more as the half went on. They came close in the 64^th minute when Frosler delivered a cross from the right, and Primeiro defender Bobo sliced an effort over his own cross bar.

Majoro then latched onto a flick on in the 70^th minute, but his shot was just off target.

The game got very fractious with several yellow cards issued by Somalian referee Mohamed Hagi as tempers flared.

Majoro then headed another good chance wide as Wits continued to press. And Wits were level in the 81^st minute as Pelembe feinted brilliantly on the edge of the box and drilled a superb shot into the top corner.

It was all Wits now and Majoro just couldn’t get his outstretched leg on the ball as substitute Klate headed down Frosler’s cross.

And when the game went to penalties it was Primeiro who held their nerve.