Round two of the 2024 Women’s Varsity Football tournament at TUT Stadium once again delivered spectacular performances.
Defending champions UWC hammered CUT 6-1, restoring their dignity after losing to UJ in round one, while UJ made it two from two, putting four goals past CPUT. There were triumphs for NWU and UP-Tuks as well.
UJ 4-0 CPUT
Fired up UJ locked horns with CPUT on a quest for another victory after edging defending champions UWC in round one. UJ made an early statement causing problems for the CPUT defence. The Johannesburg side's effort immediately paid off as they took a 1-0 lead in just 20 minutes through Bryden Mokobi.
It was a perfectly executed goal, a move started by Ayesha Moosa getting past two players and providing a through ball to Thato Mofolo who then cut it back in the box for Refilwe Maseko. Maseko made no mistake and laid it off for Mokobi, who perfectly guided it in the back of the net.
It didn't take long as UJ doubled their lead through Maseko. A dangerous delivery from Moosa to Maseko in the right space as it hit her hip and went in the bottom corner for UJ's second goal. UJ had a chance to extend their lead on the stroke of halftime as they were awarded a penalty for a push in the box, Gugu Dhlamini confidently stepped up but failed to convert. UJ took a 2-0 lead at the break.
UJ picked up where they left in the first half as they returned from the break with back-to-back goals. Mokobi completed her brace from the penalty spot after CPUT was penalised for a hand ball.
Dhlamini cross fell on substitute Sphokazi Ngwenya who fed Thato Mogolo for UJ’sfourth goal and that saw UJ take a comfortable win over the Cape based team.
SCORERS: Bryden Mokobi (2), Refilwe Maseko, Thato Mofolo.
FNB PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Ayesha Moosa (UJ)
UJ: Lerato Lefa, Gugu Dhlamini, Refilwe Maseko (C) Ayesha Moosa, Shannon Macomo, Sthembile Msomi, Bryden Mokobi, Thato Mofolo, Cinderella Sandra Mibe, Patience Sekhukhuni, Elizabeth Mazivise.
CPUT: Nonhle Ngema, Mesuli Bhungalipheli (C), Thandiswa Gwenteshe, Fumane Moeti, Sinothando Lirula, Samkelisiwe Madela, Mosetsanagape Theodorah Leepile, Truddy Mzinyathi, Pumelela Mtongana, Anathi Mpama, Sinelisiwe Phumlomo.
NWU 2-1 TUT
The hosts TUT took on NWU in the second round of the Varsity Women’s Football in search of their second victory. The Pretoria West outfit were highly motivated going into this encounter after beating rivals Tuks 2-1 in round 1.
TUT enjoyed much of the possession in the opening exchanges, but the NWU remained solid in defence. With much hunger for the opener in front of home fans, TUT committed more numbers up front. As a result, NWU goalkeeper Charlotte Tshili was forced to make two crucial saves to keep her side in contention.
Alfa Dolopi’s charges absorbed the pressure and waited for the right moment to press. Deadly on the counter, NWU got themselves a corner on the stroke of halftime which resulted in a goal courtesy of Mpho Molwele to take a slender 1-0 lead at the interval.
TUT were the first to make a mark at the start of the second half as they found an equaliser through Sibongile Ntoane after NWU failed to clear a dangerous corner kick delivery from Tshegofatso Motlogelwa.
The Eagles kept knocking with their high tempo play, the reward came late in the dying minutes of the game. TUT failed to clear their lines from a corner and Rebaone Mojahi buried a rebound to seal the victory for NWU and six points in the bag.
SCORERS:
NWU: Mpho Molwele, Rebaone Mojahi.
TUT: Sibongile Ntoane.
FNB PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Mpho Molwele (NWU).
NWU: Charlotte Karabo Tshili, Precious Tsupane, Palesa Mnguni, Hlalefang Moledi (C), Kelebogile Makwela, Florah Khoza, Lerato Monate, Kgomotso Moabelo, Mpho Molwele, Rebaone Mojahi, Zanile Khoza.
TUT: Retshepaone Valencia Ntwayagae, Glanny Mafikeng, Dineo Sharol Ramaoka, Sibongile Ntoane, Mamikgase Senyatsi, Gift Makanya, Mokgaetji Ramanna, Tshogofatso Motlogelwa (C), Ogone Motshabi, Lindiwe Nkambule, Paballo Chela.
CUT 1-6 UWC
UWC were in fine form as they made light work of the CUT, with a 6-1 victory in the second round of group stage matches of the Varsity Women’s Football tournament at the TUT stadium.
It took just three minutes for UWC to send their supporters into a frenzy, when forward Ronnel Donnelly pressed and forced a mistake from CUT before firing into the net for the first goal of the game.
Seven minutes later, it was the highly rated Chelsea Daniels who then got her name on the scoresheet, unleashing a scorching shot from distance to make it 2-0 to UWC. It then took another eight minutes for Daniels to claim her brace, this time around scoring from the penalty spot after a foul in the CUT box to make it 3-0.
CUT did manage to register a goal of their own from the penalty spot, with captain Keneilwe Nqai neatly placing her attempt in the bottom right corner, heading to the break with UWC leading by 3-1.
The second half saw UWC going for the kill, adding a further three goals to their tally.
The goals came courtesy of Donnelly who registered her brace, Thembelihle Zulu, and Daniels clinching the first tournament hat-trick as Cape Town restored their dignity.
SCORERS:
CUT - Keneilwe Nqai.
UWC - Ronnel Donnelly (2), Chelsea Daniels (3), Thembelihle Zulu.
FNB PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Ronnel Donnelly (UWC).
CUT: Malefa Mantso, Pontsho Mokgethi, Siyavuya Magoswana, Sesinyane Motlhale, Dimpho Lehasa, Ipeleng Motlhale, Keneilwe Nqai (C), Kefuwe Rampooana, Lebohang Madiboho, Maleqhwa Mokoena, Tebello Hashatsi.
UWC: Thandeka Ngcobo, Unathi Simayile, Robyn Coetzee, Ember Edwards, Nabeelah Galant, Vonisiwe Faith Maswanganyi, Akholiwe Matsotsi, Kearah Gentry, Chelsea Daniels, Thembelihle Zulu, Ronnel Donnelly.
UP-TUKS 3-0 WITS
UP-Tuks claimed the Juskei Derby bragging rights and moved a step closer to qualifying for the next round of the Varsity Women’s Football tournament, as they managed to defeat Wits 3-0 at the TUT stadium.
It was a somewhat do-or-die clash between the two Gauteng rivals, and it took just 14 minutes for UP-Tuks to trouble the scorers. The goal came off a handling mistake from Wits goalkeeper, Nthabiseng Ramaisa, who failed to hold onto a long range UP-Tuks effort that striker Sbahle Ndlovu managed to nod in.
The rest of the half saw a tightly contested affair, with UP-Tuks looking threatening every time they head forward. The Stripe Generation hea to the halftime break with a 1-0 lead.
The second half saw the Witsies look for a way back in the game, but UP-Tuks continued to control the game, stringing passes well in the Wits half. Ramaisa was in fine form for much of the game in between the sticks but she was eventually beaten by an unfortunate own goal from defender Magogodi Litlhakanyane in the 64th minute. With a 2-0 lead, UP-Tuks looked home and dry, but the goals didn't stop there, with Ibanathi Msindo scoring a potential goal of the tournament from outside the box to seal a 3-0 win.
SCORERS: S’Bahle Ndlovu, Magogodi Litlhakanyane (OG) (UP-Tuks), Ibanathi Msindo.
FNB PLAYER OF THE MATCH: S’Bahle Ndlovu (UP-Tuks).
UP-TUKS: Kgothatso Manamela, Morongwa Manamela (C), Ntando Phahla, Zikhona Mgotywa, Zikhona Ngenelwa, Ibanathi Msindo, Thando Khubeka, Nonhlakanipho Lucy Filand, Tiisang Leseyane, Thembelihle Masibi, S’Bahle Ndlovu.
WITS: Nthabiseng Ramaisa, Ayanda Mnyembane (C), Sizakele Ndlovu, Thalente Ntamane, Sakhi Mnomiya, Lusanda Nyathi, Mavis Thato Machweu, Imaan Parker, Lesego Masemola, Magogodi Litlhakanyane, Bacebile Ngema.