The Premier Soccer League (PSL) campaigners, Mpumalanga Black Aces suffered their second home defeat of the season on Saturday at the hands of the visiting side, Bidvest Wits.
Played before an empty Mbombela Stadium, this league encounter showed all the signs of being one of the PSL’s most entertaining games from the first whistle to the last.
And it came as no surprise when Sthembiso Ngcobo beat the offside trap in the seventh minute and put one past keeper Bafana Nhlapo to give the students a 1-0 advantage. Just when Aces thought of an equaliser, Ngcobo pounced again in the 15th minute to put Wits 2-0 ahead.
By now, the game seemed to have slipped away from the home team as they struggled to make a quick comeback.
But, just before half-time, Aces’ top goal scorer, Tendai Ndoro struck one back for them in the 42nd minute and reduced the deficit to 2-1 with a clinical header that left keeper Moeneeb Josephs seeing stars.
The second stanza resumed at a blistering pace with Aces dominating matters in search of an equaliser, but they were let down by poor finishing in front of goals.
Aces’ first real chance in the second stanza came in the form of Mbulelo “OJ” Mabizela who brilliantly connected with Clifford Ngobeni’s cross in the 60th minute, but was also well dealt with by Josephs, who produced many brilliant saves, a performance that earned him the man-of-the- match accolade.
Thabo Qalinge produced a magical footwork in the 72nd minute cutting inside from the left and laying the ball on the path of Ndoro, who pulled it back to Qalinge but his effort was saved by Josephs.
Aces pushed hard for an equaliser but it was too little, too late for the home team as their impressive six-match unbeaten record came to a grinding halt.
Aces’ next assignment is on Wednesday against in-form Kaizer Chiefs and away to Mamelodi Sundowns the following week.