Football: Wits Win Despite 'worst Performance'

South African defending champions Wits edged 10-man Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 Friday to exit the relegation zone after what coach Gavin Hunt called their "worst performance this season"

Johannesburg, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jan, 2018 ) :South African defending champions Wits edged 10-man Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 Friday to exit the relegation zone after what coach Gavin Hunt called their "worst performance this season".

The Premiership match in Johannesburg took a decisive turn just before the half-hour when Celtic midfielder Mpho Maruping got a straight red card for a last-defender handball. English striker James Keene calmly converted the penalty on 32 minutes, placing the ball into the middle of the net as Cameroonian goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb dived left.

Wits, who have been a bottom-two club for much of the season, climbed two places to 13th after 18 matches, three points above bottom side Platinum stars.

Celtic remained ninth. "That was our worst performance this season," said Hunt, who led Wits last season to the first league title in the 96-year history of the club.

"We were heavy legged, our passing let us down and the team never got out of first gear. There were chances to make the result safe that we failed to take. "However, pretty football is the least of our concerns at the moment.

All that counts is results when you are close to the bottom of the table." Defeating Celtic continued a mini-revival by Wits, who defeated SuperSport United and drew with Chippa United in their last two outings.