UWC make CUT pay at the ‘Operation Room’
Home comforts made all the difference for UWC as they got their first win of the Varsity Football 2019 season, beating CUT 2-0 at their Bellville base on Thursday.
In pursuit of a win at home UWC coach Stanton Smith made a few changes to his starting line-up and it proved to be a plus for his side as they started the game on a high. They produced chances in the first 25 minutes but not causing any danger to Mosai Rakometsi’s boys.
In the 26th minute Clinton Herwel saw his shot sail over the bar. UWC had a majority of the ball possession in the opening half but could not penetrate the resilient defence of CUT.
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For the hosts, Siphosethu Meveni was running rings around the visitors but lacked the killer touch to cause any damage.
CUT, though, could have taken the lead at the lead at the end of the first half but ex-Udubs star Phiwokuhle Mpalala’s free kick sailed past Ramandh’s goals. Both sides went into the halftime locked at 0-0.
The 2015 champions made a halftime substitution bringing on Leandro De De Sousa for Litha Dakuse and the change was a way of ensuring that they put CUT on the back foot.
It proved to be a worthy trick up Smith’s sleeve as they had two shots on target, one by Stuurman and De Sousa but CUT ‘keeper Thabo Samuel stood firm by making two quality saves.
De Sousa’s introduction seemed to give the home side a bit of spark as the striker unleashed a volley that sailed inches over the bar with Samuel well beaten.
It seemed that the CUT defence had to crack at some point and Herwel was the man of the moment as he headed his side into the lead.
Rakometsi then brought on Khauhelo Ramotsoenyane trying to salvage something but that proved to be costly as his side seemed to be opening crucial spaces for UWC to exploit.
With the game slowly going to the end with Stefan Stuurman produced a moment of brilliance beating Samuel from outside of the box to make the score 2-0.
UWC thus collected their first points with a superb performance and their road to the top four now seems more viable.
UWC (0) 2 Clinton Herwel, Stefan Stuurman CUT (0) 0 FNB Player of the Match:
Debonairs Pizza Real Deal Save of the Match: Thabo Samuel (CUT)
MTN Pulse Moment of Brilliance: Clinton Herwel (UWC)
UWC: 27. Ryan Ramandh (GK), 2. Azola Ntsabo, 25. Dawood Lawrence, 6. Luke Vester (capt), 21. Siphosethu Meveni, 5. Clinton Herwel, 15. Kyle Segers, 13. Deflandre de Lange, 7. Jaydan Petersen, 17. Leandro de Sousa, 20. Xhantilomzi Mesana.
Replacements: 28. Nhlanhla Mtambo (GK), 19. Ntembeko Daweti, 9. Emmanuel Sebareme, 24. Abdel-Hakeem Mohamed, 10. Stefan Stuurman, 12. Litha Dakuse, 16. Nkosinathi Gcilishe.
CUT: 1. Thabo Samuel (GK), 3. Waydelio Links, 7. Malefetsane Nkaki, 22. Itumeleng Chelopo, 15. Morena Lehloa, 8. Thabo Mokhele, 23. Mpho Molwatse, 12. Thapelo Moono, 2. Phiwokuhle Mpalala, 10. Keitumetse Mabathoana (capt), 11. Khauhelo Ramotsoenyane.
Replacements: 28. Mpho Motsoahole (GK), 13. Thabang Khopane, 5. Thabang Khesa, 25. Mothusi Madilola, 19. Oratile Mothibedi, 14. Pule Thaele, 4, Tsietsi Ramosedi.
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