Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt believes his side showed real character to overcome Ajax Cape Town at Cape Town Stadium in the Absa Premiership on Wednesday.
The Students secured a 2-1 comeback victory over the Urban Warriors, but it was Ajax who drew first blood by taking the lead in the 24th minute with a goal by Eric Chipeta.
However, the Clever Boys’ comeback started in the 69th minute when he scored his second goal of the season before Mogakolodi Ngele sealed the victory for the visiting side.
The 52-year-old coach says he was much more convinced by his team’s performance in the second half after putting the home side under pressure.
‘It was hard work, hey. In the first half we were 10-15 metres back as a team and when we got in at half-time, I said “Look, if we play further up the pitch we’ll put pressure on them” and in the second half you saw what happened,’ Hunt said.
‘We couldn’t get a foothold in the game in the first half; we couldn’t get on the ball and play because it was going up and down the pitch, so it wasn’t pretty to watch.
‘All we did was move up 10-15 metres as a team and the second half was a totally different story.’
Gabdinho Mhango was unfortunate after his first-half tap-in was wrongfully disallowed for off-side, but Hunt took the decision with a pinch of salt.
‘Yes, we were better [towards the end of the first half] – we scored a goal. I mean it wasn’t off-side, I don’t think so but we’ve got to live with those decisions,’ the former SuperSport United manager said.
‘We kept on fighting and showed great character. We haven’t won down here in five years, so it’s good for us, [especially] after losing on Saturday.’
Bidvest Wits will next take on Bloemfontein Celtic when the two sides meet in the Absa Premiership on Saturday.
The match at Dr Molemela Stadium kicks off at 20:15.