JOHANNESBURG, November 1 (ANA) – Chippa United came out firing after halftime in Johannesburg on Wednesday night to claim a 2-0 league win away at Bidvest Wits.
Both goals for Teboho Moloi’s team arrived late in the game and were scored by former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Samuel Julies, whose last goal in the top flight came five seasons ago.
The first half saw a lack fluency in both team’s attacking play and it was largely a cagey affair. There were a couple of moments in front of goal though, especially Chippa’s fourth-minute chance which saw James Okwuosa’s effort hitting the underside of the bar following a goalmouth scramble.
Wits striker Amr Gamal had his side’s first opportunity but his eighth-minute header went marginally wide.
Sfiso Hlanti and Vincent Pule also had efforts on goal for the hosts, but neither came close as the score remained locked at 0-0 at the end of an uninspired first half.
Early stages of the second stanza saw the Chilli Boys with a couple of early half opportunities while at the other end, Daine Klate pulled a shot just wide of the far post on the hour mark.
Julies, back in the top flight after several seasons in the National First Division, got the winner against Sundowns in the Telkom Knockout last weekend. And he should have put the Chilli Boys ahead when he was beautifully teed up by Paseka Mako, but the shot flew into the side-netting.
But Julies made amends when he struck a minute later, again profiting from some good work by Mako before squeezing in a 77th minute shot at the far post past Darren Keet.
His second goal was a world-class effort as he sent a scorching left-footed shot from outside the box curling into the top corner to effectively seal victory in the 85th minute.
There was no fightback from Wits – instead, the Chilli Boys enjoyed a succession of late chances and it would be no exaggeration to say they could have beaten the Students side 4-0 if they’d been more clinical.
– African News Agency (ANA)
