UWC pick up first win, a thriller in Bloem and UP-Tuks remain top

UWC pick up first win, a thriller in Bloem and UP-Tuks remain top of the log after draw with NWU It was a good day for UWC in Varsity Football round 3 as the Cape side recorded their first victory in the competition in a rainy and cold UWC Stadium.

A see-saw battle in Bloem saw CUT and VUT split the points with two goals a piece and UP-Tuks remain top of the log after a goalless draw against the NWU Eagles. Here’s how all the matches played out.

CUT 2-2 VUT

CUT Men’s Football shared the spoils with the VUT Men’s Football in a home game after the game ended in a 2-2 draw at CUT Stadium in Bloemfontein.

CUT drew first blood in the 6th minute of the game through Nkonsingiphile Libubisi to make it 1-0. The home team was in control of the game but let the game loose in the dying minutes of the halftime allowing VUT to grab an equalizer courtesy of Siyabonga Nombewu to make it 1-1 at the interval.

In the second half, CUT again came out strong from the locker room and netted a second goal from a penalty spot through Pogisho Dikole. The lead gave the home team a morale booster but once again like in the first half it took its foot off the peddle.

This again gave VUT a chance for a comeback in the game, the visiting team's Sibusiso Baloyi grabbed an equalizer with a nice curler outside the home team's box beating the goalie. From there it was all VUT putting up pressure on CUT but most of the created chances were on target and some denied the goalie. In the dying minutes of the game, things got a bit rough. This was after VUT was forced to replace two of its injured players.

Things also got untidy for CUT as the referee showed a red card to Dikole. The game ended in a draw with the teams sharing the spoils.

Scorers:

CUT: Nkonsingiphile Libubisi, Pogisho Dikole. VUT: Siyabonga Nombewu, Sibusiso Baloyi.

FNB Player of the Match: Kgahlisho Kgomoeswana (VUT)

CUT: Kananelo Sehebeng, Pule Setsosa, Simo Ndlovu, Alwande Sibiya, Tiisetso Mpholoana, Pogisho Dikole, Mzwakhe Shabalala, Nkosingiphile Lubisi, Jeffrey Mokoena, Oratile Mothibedi, Lehakwe Phumo.

VUT: Tebogo Mosia, Gontse Kole, Perceverance Mashabane, Kgotso Nhlapo (C), Lehlohonolo Ncambe, Marumo Lekoloane, Siyabonga Nombewu, Lucky Raphala, Kgahlisho Kgomoeswana, Sibusiso Motsepa, Sibusiso Baloyi.

UWC 2-0 DUT

After an absolute nightmare start of the game and poor performance against NWU last Thursday, UWC Men’s Football temporarily redeemed themselves with an emphatic win over DUT at the UWC Stadium on Thursday.

Two quick goals by Leandro De Sousa and Asibonge Maphumulo respectively gave UWC the advantage, as they went on to win the game 2-0 and get a clean sheet. The victory is a great confidence booster for the team that lost its first game, and drew the second one.

This was the team’s first win which put it fourth of the log. The DUT failed to use the wind and rain to their advantage in the first stanza. With a minute in the second half, de Sousa took advantage of the sleeping DUT defence from a cross by Nkosindiophile Ngcobo and nodded it home to make the score one to nil.

As that was not enough, DUT conceded another goal from a set piece, a corner kick scored by a towering Asibonge Maphumulo. After the two goals, the match seemed like a daunting task to DUT while UWC seemed to be shimmering with hope and optimism.

The home tried but it was not to be especially with conditions now unplayable after a heavy second-half rain. The referee blew the final whistle after 95 minutes with a disappointed DUT leaving the field without a goal.

Scorers:

Leandro De Sousa, Asibonge Maphumulo (UWC)

FNB Player of the Match: Khanya Dyani (UWC). 

UWC: Nkosingiphile Ncwane, Leandro De Sousa, Ranieri Salvini, Damian Overmeyer (C), Khanya Dyani, Vuyani Ncontsa, Relebohile Matima, Asibonge Maphumulo, Imaan January, Zamian Plaatjies, Leathan Croats

DUT: Philasande Mthembu, Xolani Mkhonza (C), Khayelihle Ndlovu, Manqoba Shange, Mlulamisi Khowa, Awande Ngidi, Samkelo Gwala, Thobani Jwara, Nhlakanipho Ngwenya, Iviwe Sodidi, Mlamuli Hlongwa.

TUT 0-0 UFS

UFS Men’s Football and the TUT Men’s Football played to a goalless stalemate in Bloemfontein on Thursday in a game that may not have produced any goals, but certainly provided a lot of entertainment value.

UFS will lament their lack of scoring, especially after the number of chances they created. From the onset, TUT were a lot more physical than any of the teams UFS had played thus far. By the same token, that went for the visitors as well. Towards the latter stages of the first half, UFS started taking a little more control of the midfield and the scoring chances came, and this was through the hard graft by midfielder and player of the match, Moeti Mofokeng.

The second half saw the home side pushing hard on the attack, especially in the earlier stages and this allowed TUT to counter hard when they managed to depose UFS of the ball. The defence was however up to the task, but they were forced to scramble.

 UFS remained composed, especially considering that they were bullied physically, but in staying that, the discipline gave the team from the Free State a lot more set-piece opportunities which they couldn’t convert.

No more so than the 73rd-minute penalty miss by captain Boy Rantsoti, where he had the goalkeeper beaten for all money. After their drubbing at the hands of VUT last week, TUT will take the point, while for UFS it is a tale of what could have been. Addressing the finishing will be the key focus in the week as they prepare to welcome the University of Pretoria on Thursday.

Scorers:

FNB Player of the Match: Moeti Mofokeng (UFS).

TUT: Luyanda Mandindi, Nqubeko Ntimbane, Mnqobi Khumalo, Andile Malaka, Precious Mohale, Thuso Mlamla (C), Katlego Motlhale, Menzukuthula Ntshangase, Nare Mojapelo, Minenhle Khanyile, Lesedi Khosi.

UFS: Boy Rantsoti (C), Samkelo Nakedi, Omphemetse Matlhogonolo Athibeng, Sandile Mhlanga, Arlonso Diedricks, Obakeng Seekoei, Iviwe Dyabuza, Moeti Mofokeng, Jarome Jansen, Thandolwethu Khoza, Tisetso Daniel Seodinyane.

UP-Tuks 0-0 NWU

The two on form sides hit the ground running with Tuks looking to maintain an unbeaten run and NWU looking to climb up the log. As anticipated, it was end-to-end action with both teams playing high-tempo football and high press.

NWU played to their pacey wingers and relied on second-ball counter-attacks which Tuks were up to task on. The Pretoria side also explored on the wings playing more direct aerial balls and crosses for the tall striker Mnqobi Mkhize.

With both teams failing to capitalise on their half chances, there was nothing to separate the two sides at the break, 0-0 at halftime. The second half was not short of drama as both teams looked threatening on attack. Tuks kept asking questions, causing two vital saves from NWU keeper, Kamogelo Matane.

The Eagles of the North West absorbed the pressure and relied on counter-attack, however, failed to produce clear-cut chances. The thrilling tight encounter saw both sides throwing everything at each other.

Tuks looked dangerous in the dying minutes of the game with Matome Rangata terrorising the NWU defence, and substitute Quintin Stokes-Waller hitting it straight to the keeper. Tuks saw their last attacks at the death of the game failing to convert, leaving the sides sharing the spoils.

Scorers:

FNB Player of the Match: Kamogelo Matane (NWU).

UP-Tuks: Jayden Van Der Walt, Khotatso Balepile, Nkosana Shabalala, Edward Rankwe, Tshepiso Mahlangu, Paballo Mamabolo, Camagu Mdevulana, Matome Rangata, Raymond Tshwane Matlamela, Samukelo Ngodela, Mnqobi Mkhize.

NWU: Kamogelo Matane, Olebogeng Moeti, Lucky Letwaba, Sousa Mathe, Lucas Seromo, Thabang Majoro, Reatlegile Kgosithebe, Xolani Masethi, Momelezi Mngati, Pascual Tivane, Itumeleng Selemela.