Round two of the 2026 Varsity Football Women's tournament burst into life at the University of Pretoria on Sunday, producing 20 goals after just three were scored on the opening day.
TUT delivered the biggest result with an emphatic 11-1 victory over CPUT, while UJ made it two wins from two after beating hosts UP-Tuks 3-0. Wits secured a 2-1 win over newcomers UL, while defending champions UWC were held to a 1-1 draw by WSU and remain without a victory.
CPUT 1-11 TUT
TUT took on CPUT looking to redeem themselves following a blunder in the opening game. The encounter was expected to be one-sided as the six-time champions were gunning for their seventh star.
CPUT did the unthinkable, grabbing an early lead from the spot after TUT committed a foul. Sinelisiwe Phumlomo sent the keeper the wrong way inside the first five minutes.
Their lead, though, did not last for long as TUT tied matters immediately. Sibongile Ntoane, controlling the attack, found Gugu Mabitsela, who made no mistake and guided it home. Andiswa Jele put her side in front for the first time. A brilliant cross was delivered, and Jele headed in a free header.
The Red Army doubled their lead after that through Ntoane for her first of the campaign as she did that from the spot, with the playmaker slotting it home.
The affair proved to be one-sided for the majority of the first half as Prof Ntwanano Kubayi's side bagged their fourth on the stroke of halftime to take a comfortable three-goal cushion at the interval.
The Red Army picked up where they left off, netting seven more goals in the second half.
Substitute Tshepang Mosehla opened the second-half scoring, slotting it in the corner. Ntoane registered her brace minutes later, opening the floodgates.
It was Ntoane's show, as she bagged assists and a hat-trick. TUT broke CPUT's defensive lines with ease, as they went on to net their seventh and Malesa's second. Before completing her hat-trick, beating the keeper one-on-one. Mabitsela and Mosehla registered their brace before Ntoane ended things with a hat-trick.
SCORERS:
CPUT: (1) 1
Sinelisiwe Phumlomo
TUT: (4) 11
Sibongile Ntoane X3, Gugu Mabitsela X2, Andiswa Jele X2, Tshepang Mosehla X2, Nombuso Malesa X2.
FNB Player of the Match: Sibongile Ntoane (TUT)
TEAMS:
CPUT: Thandiswa Gwenteshe, Sinothile Makhanya, Rhulani Mthethwa, Liyema Tom, Kiyhana Daniels, Mosetsanagape Theodorah Leepile, Zilungile Mathiya, Bontle Mkhangwana, Zozibini Jim, Yandiswa Ndlangamandla, Sinelisiwe Phumlomo
TUT: Mbali Ndlovu, Thabiso Senyatsi, Lindiwe Nkambule, Nonzuzo Buthelezi, Nkateko Nkhuna, Palesa Ntsholo, Sibongile Ntoane, Andiswa Jele, Nombuso Malesa, Gugu Mabitsela, Mokgaetji Ramanna
UJ 3-0 UP-Tuks
Tuks locked horns with UJ in a Gauteng derby as the Johannesburg side came into the encounter high in confidence after their slender win over TUT on Saturday. UP-Tuks was aiming for a first win after holding defending champions to a goalless draw.
It was an end-to-end action as expected with Gauteng bragging rights at stake. Tuks came close to getting an opener when S'bahle Ndlovu released Dakarai Zhoya, who saw her shot blocked by the keeper in a one-on-one situation.
UJ struck twice in five minutes through Kusaselihle Shibase and Ayanda Mnyembane. Shibase finished off a pinpoint long pass from Kabelo Mokoena before Mnyembane capitalised on a defensive error to double the lead.
Tuks posed threatening attacks in search of a goal; however, their efforts could not materialise as UJ took a two-goal cushion at halftime.
The second stanza produced a more technically disciplined display with UJ guarding their lines and absorbing the pressure. Tuks committed more numbers upfront in a desperate search for a goal.
UJ sealed the victory with a clinical counterattack as Mnyembane set up Kusaselihle Shibase for her second goal of the match. Despite UP-Tuks' efforts to respond, UJ's disciplined defence held firm to secure all three points.
SCORERS
UJ: (2) 3
Kusaselihle Shibase X2, Ayanda Mnyembane
UP-Tuks: (0) 0
FNB Player of the Match: Kusaselihle Shibase (UJ)
TEAMS:
UJ: Matshidiso Masebe, Patience Sekhukhuni, Sthembile Msomi, Ntsandeni Angel Munasi, Kutlwano Maphane, Sbongakonke Mzobe, Sthembile Sandleni, Lindelwa Mabuza, Kabelo Mokoena, Mpho Dlamini, Ayanda Mnyembane
UP-Tuks: Akani Maluleke, Sizakel Khumalo, Aphelele Mhlongo, Palesa Hlongwane, Dakarai Zhoya, S’bahle Ndlovu, Shannan Williams, Nthabiseng Mazoeu, Ibanathi Msindo, Mmarita Malatji, Zikhona Mgotywa.
Wits 2-1 UL
Wits faced UL as both sides searched for their first win of the campaign. The Johannesburg outfit started as favourites and threatened early on, while UL responded with their first meaningful attack in the 14th minute in an evenly-contested encounter.
UL's rapid counter unsettled Wits' defence as they committed a foul on the edge, resulting in a goal. Pitsi Ramasenya connected perfectly with the delivery, handing her side a lead from a header.
Wits nearly found an equaliser when the in-form Thina Nogcantsi pierced through UL's defence and beat the keeper, but failed to control the ball as she headed wide. UL survived Wits' desperate attack and held a slender lead at the interval.
Wits returned from the break rejuvenated and piled pressure on UL. Desperate to defend their sole lead, UL suffered a blow as they were reduced to 10 players when Mmamonyana Selloe was sent off.
The Johannesburg side enjoyed immediate rewards as they tied the deficit. Nwabisa Qoba was pulling the strings in the middle of the park. Wits pierced through UL's defence, finding Qoba, who perfectly fed Imaan Parker, who easily tapped in the equaliser.
UL keeper Mangoako Keetsi was kept busy saving two one-on-one incidents to deny Wits a lead. That did not last long as Qoba finally registered her name on the score sheet. Inside the box, the former UWC player displayed impeccable control to slot the ball into the bottom corner, sealing Wits' 2-1 triumph.
SCORERS:
Wits: (0) 2
Imaan Parker, Nwabisa Qoba
UL: (1) 1
Pitsi Ramasenya
FNB Player of the Match: Nwabisa Qoba (Wits)
TEAMS:
Wits: Nthabiseng Ramaisa, Thalente Ntshiza, Thalente Ntamane, Amogelang Rachelapa, Lusanda Nyathi, Matobane Moshugi, Aliyaah Allie, Nwabisa Qoba, Mmathapelo Tau, Thina Nogcantsi, Primrose Kopeka.
UL: Mangoako Tebogo Keetsi, Melida Sekuba, Pitsi Ramasenya, Lisbon Forgive Phakula, Lungile Mlotshwa, Welcome Maphanga, Fiona Namanyana, Mmamonyana Selloe, Keletso Rakgate, Bonolo Mashego, Tshepang Shalete Manganye.
UWC 1-1 WSU
Defending champions UWC collided with WSU, with both sides looking to register their first wins. The Western Cape outfit headed into the clash with a couple of changes from their opening encounter against Tuks, missing goal poacher Chelsea Daniels due to injury.
Vulindlela Biko's troops came close to breaking the deadlock after relentless attempts as Sinamile Mkhwanazi's long-range shot hit the crossbar.
UWC kept asking questions, and captain Tiffany Kortjie stepped up to the task and netted a goal that was later denied for offside.
WSU held it tied at the back, heading to the break deadlocked at 0-0.
The second half produced all the goals with WSU breaking the deadlock. With their sole promising attack, WSU were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box as Lilita Mweli opened her account with a looping shot in the far corner.
Chasing an equaliser, UWC pushed captain Kortjie further forward, but the WSU goalkeeper produced a series of crucial saves to preserve her side's advantage.
The defending champions did not back down and were finally rewarded for their efforts. Kortjie connected well with a throughball and perfectly placed it in the far post to level things.
SCORERS:
UWC: (0) 1
Tiffany Kortjie
WSU: (0) 1
Lilita Mweli
FNB Player of the Match: Tiffany Kortjie (UWC)
TEAMS:
UWC: Siphesihle Dlamini, Mmabatho Onthatile Joy Mogale, Unathi Simayile, Skye Constance, Tiffany Kortjie, Sinamile Mkhwanazi, Bandile Mthethwa, Akholiwe Matsotsi, Thembelihle Zulu, Vuyolwethu Sitshoni, Lisakhanya Magida
WSU: Likona Lisakanya Ngewu, Angel Shabalala, Nokulunga Buhle Buthelezi, Lisakhanya Msengana, Esoxolo Nyholo, Lilitha Mjungula, Nintu Jele. Okuhle Mrulwa, Emihle Nase, Lilita Ncwanekazi Mweli, Mandisa Nomfundo Gumede.