JOHANNESBURG: Phakamani Mahlambi scored twice on his return from a long injury lay-off to help Wits beat Free State Stars 3-1 Saturday and reached second in the South African Premiership table.
The 19-year-old midfielder converted a first-half penalty after he was fouled and hammered in a rebound just past the hour mark at Milpark Stadium in Johannesburg before being substituted.
Wits are one point behind leaders Cape Town City and two ahead of third-place SuperSport United just before the halfway mark of the 2016-2017 league season.
Considered one of the brightest prospects in South African football, Mahlambi was deployed as a wide attacker rather than in the middle to reduce the risk of injury on his home ground.
It was his first appearance for the Johannesburg outfit since suffering a knee injury last February, which shattered his dream of playing at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Chosen as man of the match, Mahlambi held the award beside older brother, Mthobisi, who played a crucial role in the recovery of Phakamani.
"Mthobisi donated a piece of hamstring for my operation because the surgeon believed that using mine could reduce my speed," the teenager said.
Coach Gavin Hunt, who won three consecutive Premiership titles with SuperSport United before switching to Wits, hailed Mahlambi.
"It was an encouraging performance given he has been sidelined for so long," said the 52-year-old former Premiership defender.
But Hunt admitted to being frustrated by the team performance, even though it ended a five-match winless run in all competitions against bottom club Free State.
"While I am happy to pick up three points, we should have killed off the game much earlier. We were guilty of a South African football obsession with over elaboration."
Stars striker Moeketsi Sekola could have created a tense finish had he scored from an 84th-minute penalty or the rebound, with goalkeeper Darren Keet blocking both kicks.
"Our attitude was no good," complained Giovanni Solinas, the Italian coach of Free State. "We lacked concentration and made silly mistakes."
Malawian Frank 'Gabadinho' Mhango and Mahlambi scored before a brilliant solo goal from Thokozani Sekotlong halved the deficit by half-time.
Mahlambi restored the two-goal advantage and Free State captain Angelo Kerspuy was red-carded 14 minutes from time after a second caution.
Ajax Cape Town continued a revival under coach and former Netherlands goalkeeper Stanley Menzo by winning 3-0 at Bloemfontein Celtic through goals from Ndiviwe Mdabuka, Prince Nxumalo and Thabo Mosadi.
Katlego Mashego and Lerato Manzini scored to give erratic mid-table Chippa United a 2-0 home win over strugglers Highlands Park in coastal town East London.
Platinum Stars failed to build on a stunning four-goal triumph at Cape Town City four days ago as they were held 0-0 by visiting Maritzburg United in mining town Rustenburg.
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