Bidvest Wits progressed into the next round of the Telkom Knockout after beating Free State Stars in a Last 16 match at Goble Park on Saturday afternoon.

It was the perfect start to the match for Wits who took the lead within 60 seconds of kick-off when Simon Murray found the back of the net with a clinical finish, 1-0.

Murray almost doubled the lead in the tenth minute when he broke into the box, but fired his close range shot into the side-netting.

Murray was in the thick of the action again in the 25th minute when he played Dean Hotto through on goal, but he fired inches over with just the keeper to beat.

Free State controlled the rest of the half, but they were poor in the final third and wasted their possession with bad passing and woeful shooting in front of goal.

The half ended 1-0 in favour of Wits.

Stars came close to drawing level eight minutes into the second half when Goodman Dlamini found some space on the edge of the box, but his powerful shot struck the woodwork.

In the 70th minute the home side almost drew level again when Judas Moseamedi beat a defender in the Wits box with a great turn, but he flashed his shot from close range inches over the target.

Eight minutes later a quick long-range free-kick from Macuphu saw him strike the crossbar with the Wits keeper well-beaten.

Stars continued to press forward but were unable to find the equaliser as they were dumped out of the Telkom Knockout.

Free State (0) 0

Wits (1) 1 (Murray 1’)

TEAMS

Free State: Sangare, Mahamutsa, Phungwayo, Tema, Dlamini, Maruping (Gandze 82’), Makhaula, Jantjie, Bhengu (Moseamedi 58’), Mobbie, Tchilimbou (Masina 65’).

Wits: Keet, Hlatshwayo, Nonyane, Johannes, Monare, Murray (Majoro 74’), Hotto, Mkhwanazi, Alexander, Domingo (Pelembe 63’), Macuphu (Vere 87’).