MTN8 final - Wits outsmart Sundowns

Eleazar Rodgers of Bidvest Wits celebrates a goal with teammates during the MTN8 Final. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu

Eleazar Rodgers of Bidvest Wits celebrates a goal with teammates during the MTN8 Final. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu

Published Oct 1, 2016

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Bidvest Wits (2)3

Klate 1, 62, Rodgers 21

Mamelodi Sundowns 0

 

A GROUP of Sundowns’ supporters, who made the drive from Pretoria to Nelspruit, congregated outside this stadium and sang that people who want to put out the flames of their red-hot team must bring a fire-extinguisher. The Clever Boys didn’t need such. A heavy downpour that hit just before kick-off and the rain that persisted for most of the first half made the pitch wet and slippery.

 

Wits reacted better to the conditions, going direct when they needed to by making fewer passes to get to the box. The lanky Eleazar Rodgers provided them with a point of reference when they needed to get into the Sundowns’ box quickly. His height allowed Wits to go wide with confidence knowing that they have a target man waiting in the box.

 

But Rodgers’ height doesn’t make him one-dimensional, he can also play with his feet when he needs to. He did that to open space for Daine Klate to stun the Brazilians, 38 seconds into this match. As they were recovering, Klate turned provider, sort of, when he challenged goalkeeper Dennis Onyango in the air. The Ugandan goalkeeper came and didn’t collect, leaving Rodgers with an easy job of just putting the ball in the back of the net.

 

The difference between Wits and Sundowns is that Wits played the conditions well. Sundowns didn’t. They tried to play their passing game to little effect because the pitch didn’t allow it.

 

How Sundowns’ played contradicted coach Pitso Mosimane’s statement on Thursday that his team doesn’t just dance – they first listen to the music the opponents is singing and then react to it.

 

On the evening, they spent the first half waddling in a wet dance-floor as if they had two left feet because they didn’t listen to the music the pitch played.Wits did and they danced their way to lifting the MTN8.  

 

As the pitch slowly dried up, Mosimane started the second half with Yannick Zakri, in place of Anthony Laffor, with the Ivorian running at the Wits’ defenders. The move was also aimed at limiting Wits’ deadly wingers – Elias Pelembe and Klate with Gabadinho Mhango joining in the party – by pinning them back.

 

Keagan Dolly played as a floating leftback after Tebogo Langerman was replaced by Siyanda Zwane with Asavela Mbekile moved into midfield.

 

By pushing this much for a goal, Sundowns left themselves open at the back and Wits made them pay. Rodgers went on a good run on the right flank before putting the ball in front of a sliding Klate wo beat a stranded Onyango.

 

It wasn’t just the goals that showed Klate’s impact at Wits’, it was also his work rate. One of the most decorated players in the country, with five league titles among his bounty, pushed Wits to the finish line in his 13th cup final appearance.

 

His experience came in handy against a Sundowns’ side that boasted that they would have an edge over Wits as they have played in more games like this than them.

 

The hunger to end a six-year trophy drought fuelled the Clever Boys who boasts one of the most formidable squads in the country.

 

Gavin Hunt argued that should they win just one trophy, the floodgates are likely to be open with more silverware in a side he dragged from a mid-table club to league contenders. Saturday night, he turned them into champions.

Independent Media

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