Bidvest Wits beat the University of Pretoria 2-1 in what has been dubbed the University derby in an Absa Premiership game at Tuks stadium on Wednesday evening.

Sibusiso Vilakazi’s strike was cancelled out by an Aubrey Ngoma free-kick in the first half. Papy Faty’s 75th minute goal, though, secured all three points and the bragging rights for the Clever Boys.

Andre Arendse started the game for Wits, while 17-year old Jethren Barr had to watch from the stands.

The game started in particular derby fashion with both defences holding their own and not giving the attackers room to breathe.

The Clever Boys looked the more dangerous in the first 20 minutes of the encounter but the home side came into their own as the game progressed

Arendse, who had to come out if retirement due to Wits injuries problems, had an exciting first half an hour back in topflight football.

The veteran shot stopper looked vulnerable in the air while Mame Niang successfully charged down one of his attempted clearances. The former Bafana Bafana No 1, though, still had the works when it came to shot stopping.

The 45-year old did well to block a stinging Lionel Mutizwa shot in the 28th minute of the game before clutching onto an Aubrey Ngoma drive four minutes later.

Bidvest Wits opened the scoring in the 36th minute of the game. Washington Arubi could only manage to palm a Calvin Kadi shot straight to the feet of Sibusiso Vilakazi, the Wits captain made no mistake from close range netting his fourth goal of the campaign, 1-0.

It didn’t take long for AmaTuks to level matters. Aubrey Ngoma curled in a free-kick from just outside the area past a helpless Arendse after Langu Sweswe brought down Mame Niang. The goal was Ngoma’s sixth of the season, 1-1.

The sides went into the changing rooms deadlocked at one goal apiece.

The second stanza started like the first with both sides limited to shots from range. But like the first 45 the second half caught fire just past the hour mark.

Papy Faty’s dipping free-kick from range in the 64th minute seemed to have Arubi in some trouble but luckily for the Zimbabwean keeper the ball went just over the crossbar.

Vilakazi then thought he had restored his sides lead five minutes later but the midfielder was adjudged to be offside.

AmaTuks took advantage of the Clever Boys remonstrating with the official and nearly scored from the resulting counter-attack.

Wits though successfully regained the lead in the 75th minute of the game through Papy Faty. Vilakazi slid a precise ball to Kadi, the striker in return played a square ball to the feet off Faty and the Burundian made no mistake finishing off in suburb fashion, 2-1.

AmaTuks went desperately in search of the equaliser in the final few minutes but the Clever Boys defence held firm.

University of Pretoria (1) 1 (Ngoma 40’)

Bidvest Wits (1) 2 (Vilakazi 36’ Faty 75’)

Teams

University of Pretoria: Arubi; Kobola, Mkhwanazi (Bishop 38’), Shoyisa, Moussono-Moussono, Ketjijere, Selolwane (Ngwenya 79’), Mutizwa (Oluwafemi 66’), Ngoma, Zungu, Niang

Bidvest Wits: Arendse; Gumede, Moon (Isaacs 79’), Nengomasha, Kadi (Nato 85’), Vilakazi, Sweswe, Faty, Mashaba (Langwe 63’), Sibande, Mngomezulu