CAF Champions League
Result: Primero de Agosto 1-0 Bidvest Wits
Date: 07 March 2018
Venue: Estadio 11 de Novembro
Bidvest Wits suffered a 1-0 loss to Primero de Agosto in the first leg of their CAF Champions League first-round tie on Wednesday.
The Clever Boys, who are looking to qualify for the group stages for the first time in their history, started the match on a back-foot, with Agosto attacking with real intent in the early stages.
Wits goalkeeper Kyle Peters made a crucial save in the 25th minute to deny de Agosto, who were dominating the match as Wits were finding it difficult to get out of their half.
The Clever Boys recovered after 35 minutes and nearly forced the home side into scoring an own goal, but they survived the scare.
Wits' Peters was called into action again three minutes before halftime, making a brilliant stop to deny the home side the lead, before Reeve Frosler cleared a goal-bound shot off the line to keep the score goalless going into the break.
The visitors had breathing space in the first 10 minutes of the second stanza, with full-back Sifiso Hlanti overlapping and sending crosses into the area.
Frosler was also doing his bit on the right wing from defence and he nearly created a goal for the Clever Boys on the hour-mark by finding Thobani Mncwango with a cross in the area but the former Polokwane City marksman's header went over the bar.
Frosler, however, was withdrawn with 25 minutes remaining as Hunt made his first change by bringing on attacker Sifiso Myeni.
The Clever Boys had the momentum with 15 minutes left to play as they had de Agosto - who were anonymous thus far - on the ropes.
The home side broke the deadlock 12 minutes before time with a strike at the back post despite being quiet for the better part of the second half.
Daylon Claasen almost found the equaliser for the Clever Boys two minutes later with a curling strike that was searching for the far corner but the Agosto goalkeeper made a great save at full stretch as the hosts held on for the win.
Here's how they started:
Wits: Peters, Hlatshwayo, Gyimah, Scott, Rodgers. Hlanti, Claasen, Mkhwanazi, Mncwango, Frosler, Majoro.
Subs: Keet, Khumalo, Ntshangase, Pelembe, Myeni, Kodisang.
