Somehow Bidvest Wits conspired to miss a string of excellent chances and allow Kaizer Chiefs to pickpocket an unlikely 1-0 Absa Premiership victory here last night.

A disjointed Chiefs had hardly had a chance in the game against Wits' impressively brawny, high intensity performance before George Maluleka put Amakhosi ahead with a 59th-minute free-kick.

Chiefs clawed onto that lead in the face of a continued onslaught in a match that had everything, including a pitch invasion by a female protester bearing a "Fees Must Fall" banner.

It is that time of the season where coaches are left juggling by injuries and suspensions. On the evidence of this match Wits have a greater quality in depth than their much-vaunted Johannesburg neighbours.

With a mouthful made in changes by both sides, one might have expected a disjointed match. On the contrary, the teams served up an electrifyingly-paced game befitting of sides who came into the match in second and fourth on the log.

Wits, though, far more so, and the Students could justifiably claim to have been denied victory.

They dominated the first half to an almost alarming extent, creating opportunities and pinning Chiefs on the back foot.

Daine Klate's diving header forced a save from Chiefs goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse. From Klate's resultant corner Ben Motswari shot wide.

Against the run of play, Siphiwe Tshabalala's goal-bound shot from the right was cleared by Bongani Khumalo's header.

Phakamani Mahlambi beat Lorenzo Gordinho into the area and blasted high, then headed Jabulani Shongwe's cross a foot over. The Clever Boys had a convincing penalty appeal turned down 10 minutes into the first half by referee Victor Gomes, as Mahlambi went down.