Round three of the 2026 Varsity Football Women’s competition brought the defending champions UWC back to winning ways, as they produced a dominant display to hammer the UL 6-0.
After two draws, UWC secured their first win of the season in emphatic fashion, sending an early warning to the rest of the competition.
UJ continued their impressive start to the campaign, making it three wins from three after cruising to a 4-0 victory over WSU.
UP-Tuks also secured a win over struggling CPUT, while TUT claimed Gauteng derby bragging rights with victory over Wits.
UWC 6-0 UL
After two draws in the opening games, defending champions, UWC locked horns with newcomers UL looking to taste maiden victory in the current season.
The determined Limpopo side aiming to show their bravery in attack against the three-time champions. UWC posed early threats with breathtaking attacks right into the whistle. Captain Tiffany Kortjie was denied by the crossbar before the Western Cape side went on to score two goals to cement their dominance.
Mmabatho Mogale opened the scoresheet before Thembelihle Zulu doubled their lead. Awarded a freekick on the 60m line Mogale stepped up and unleashed a thunder that deflected off a UL defender and left the keeper flat footed.
It was not long till UWC got their second. Zulu exploited the wide side and cut inside for an unstoppable strike looping in the near side.
UL relied on counterattack and overloaded the near side with Dudzile Mkhonto. The Limpopo were almost awarded when Mkhonto fed Keletso Rakgate who saw her effort blocked for a corner. UWC pulling all the strings, taking a 2-goal lead at the halftime break.
It was UWC all over UL as the three-time champions returned guns blazing. UWC were unquestioned putting 4 more goals past UL's shot stopper Mangoako Keetsi. Zulu scored her second of the match with a thunderous strike inside the box.
It was a one side affair before skipper Tiffany Kortjie turned up the heat with a hattrick. First the skipper was denied by the upright following a clean break piercing through UL defense. It was attack after attack from the Western Cape outfit, Kortjie connecting well with a ball and unleashing a lethal strike to make it 4-0.
Ten minutes later the skipper returned with another strike this time inside the box, after UL failed to clear their lines. It was Kortjie's show as she closed off things with another perfectly executed goal. Released on a throughball, Kortjie controls with her chest and hit it hard and low in the bottom corner. UWC finally getting win for Varsity Football with a commanding 6-0 victory over UL.
SCORERS:
UWC: (2) 6 Tiffany Kortjie X3, Thembelihle Zulu X2, Mmabatho Mogale
UL: (0) 0
FNB Player of the Match: Tiffany Kortjie (UWC)
UJ 4-0 WSU
UJ embarked on their hunt for their third win of the season when they took on WSU while the KuGompo City side on the other hand were still looking for their first win.
Nthabeleng Modiko's troops were the favorites heading into this clash as they maintained a perfect start with two wins from two games.
UJ immediately cemented their supremacy with an early lead. Lindelwa Mabuza pulled a cracker from outside the box to put Orange Army in front. Despite WSU keeping the Johannesburg giants at bay in the first 15 minutes, UJ enjoyed much of the possession which resulted in their second and third goals.
Unstoppable swift attack from UJ saw Mpho Dlamini doubling UJ's lead with a tap in. Five minutes later WSU defence were left exposed, from a corner WSU defender cleared the on the line but only as far as Kutlwano Maphane who headed home UJ's third. UJ unquestioned at the break with z comfortable 3-0 lead.
UJ walked on for the second half with the same intensity. Attack after attack the Orange Army finally got their fourth goal. Dlamini slots it in the top corner to register her brace.
WSU fought hard at the back to not concede more. UJ were relentless in attack which saw WSU defender Nokulunga Buthelezi clearing the ball off the line, from Dlamini. WSU closed shop while UJ marched on for their third win, UJ 4-0 WSU.
SCORERS:
UJ: (3) 4 Lindelwa Mabuza, Mpho Dlamini X2, Kutlwano Maphane.
WSU: (0) 0
FNB Player of the Match: Mpho Dlamini (UJ)
CPUT 1-3 UP-Tuks
The two sides rooted bottom of group A and B battled it out on quest for survival. CPUT looking to redeem themselves following a devastating 11-1 defeat to six-time champions TUT while the Stripe Generation were also in search of first win.
Sibongiseni Khamlana's side grabbed an early lead on the 10th minute when Tuks goalkeeper failed to read her line. Yandiswa Ndlangamandla looped a shot in the far post from outside the box for a sensational finish.
UP-Tuks desperate to get back in the match piled pressure on the CPUT defence. S'bahle Ndlovu came close to pulling one back for Tuks twice but failed to capitalize on the chances. Ndlovu broke the line but failed to connect well with a ball.
Ndlangamandla's strike was CPUT's remained the difference as the Cape Peninsula outfit took a narrow 1-0 at the break. UP-Tuks returned from the break in high spirit securing an all needed come-back. Nthabiseng Mazoeu level matters for Tuks with a clean strike inside the box.
The Pretoria outfit looked to be in control of proceedings as they went on to score two more. Substitute Thobile Mtsweni came close to taking the lead for Tuks, alone in the box but misguided the ball wide.
CPUT were forced to play low and struggled to get out of their own half. Flood gates opened for Tuks as they went to score two more to secure a much-needed victory.
Mtsweni's long range from outside the box put Tuks in front. Mmarita Malatji put the game to bed on the stroke of fulltime with a clean tap in. Tuks securing their first victory of 2026.
SCORERS:
CPUT: (1) 1 Yandiswa Ndlangamandla.
UP-Tuks: (0) 3 Nthabiseng Mazoeu, Thobile Mtsweni, Mmarita Malatji.
FNB Player of the Match: Shannan Williams (UP-Tuks)
Wits 0-2 TUT
Highly motivated Wits took on record champions TUT with both sides looking to cement their positions in the knockouts. The Red Army did not waste time and were in front inside the opening five minutes.
Thabiso Senyatsi found herself alone in the box and buried it in the bottom corner.
TUT kept asking questions looking to double their lead, but Wits stayed put playing a high line defense causing TUT to concede numerous offsides.
Wits found themselves under immense pressure and came close to getting an equaliser. TUT committed numbers upfront and Wits hit them on a counter-attack, one on one with the keeper Thina Nogcantsi saw her effort blocked.
The ladies from the capital city headed to the break with a slender 1-0 lead.
The second half delivered a more compact show, with TUT looking for a second while Wits focused on guarding their goal line. Wits exploited the wide areas in search of an equalizer and came close on a couple of occasions to levelling the matters.
Gugu Mabitsela saw her shot blocked by Nthabiseng Ramaisa who had to produce back-to-back saves to keep Wits alive.
Wits threw all they have to the six-time champions however their efforts did not materialize. Deadly counter-attack saw Thina Nogcantsi denied by the keeper.
TUT were not done as they wrapped up the proceedings with a sensational finish from Nombuso Malesa, slotting it in the bottom corner.
SCORERS:
Wits: (0) 0
TUT: (1) 2 Thabiso Senyatsi, Nombuso Malesa
FNB Player of the Match: Thabiso Senyatsi (TUT)
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