UWC, Tuks to battle for Varsity women’s football crown

UWC thrashed Wits 4-0 in their semifinal at the University of Pretoria on Saturday, while Tuks needed a late own goal to beat UJ.

It will be UWC’s fifth appearance in a Varsity Women’s Football final and Tuks’ second, with neither team having lifted the trophy before. Monday’s decider will kick off at 17:00 and be broadcast live on SuperSport Variety 4 (channel 209).

Semifinal: WITS 0-4 UWC

UWC ended Wits’ dream run in their debut Varsity Women’s Football tournament with a convincing win at the Tuks B-Field. Tshegofatso Senanya, Tiffany Kortjie and Amagelgn Motau gave UWC a 3-0 lead at half-time of this semi-final, with Janice Smith adding a fourth in the second half. Motau won the FNB Player of the Match award.

UWC are the team to beat in this competition and are just one game away from lifting the trophy for the first time. UWC struck early with a goal from Tshegofatso Senanya in the third minute. Molatelo Kobo made an incredible run and put an inviting cross for Senanya to tap in.

Wits coach Nthabiseng Modiko was furious with her team’s defending and had more reason to be upset when Tiffany Kortjie beat the offside trap to score UWC’s second goal in the 13th minute. Antonio Maponya could have made it three soon after, but her free-kick hit the post.

There was controversy when Shakeerah Jacobs unleashed a rocket that hit the underneath of the crossbar. The referee did not award a goal, much to the dismay of Modiko and her players, who believed the ball had crossed the line.

Erin Herz produced a fine save from Ngobeni as Wits came close to scoring in the 28th minute, before Amogelang Motau scored a cracking goal outside the 18-yard area in the 30th minute to make it 3-0. Smith then ended the game as a contest with some individual brilliance in the 54th minute.

Semifinal: TUKS 2-1 UJ

A late own goal by UJ’s Queen Ntsoelikane gave Tuks a dramatic 2-1 win in their semi-final at the Tuks B-Field. It came from a UJ goal kick that was headered back by Tuks’ Betty Mallela. UJ defender Ntsoelikane tried to clear but her header looped over onrushing goalkeeper Elizabeth Mazivise.

The scoreless first half was evenly contested with few clear-cut opportunities. UJ edged possession, while Tuks relied on winning most of the second balls from their direct style of play.

UJ broke the deadlock in the 47th minute when Keolebogile Putu scored from the penalty spot. Tuks then levelled the scores when Betty Mallela made no mistake with her penalty at the other end of the field in the 64th minute. Mallela would then be involved in the dramatic late incident that decided the game. Tuks’ Rose Mashishi won the FNB Player of the Match award.

TUT 5-3 NWU

TUT secured fifth place in the tournament with an emphatic victory at the Tuks B-Field. It provided some consolation for the six-time champions, who failed to reach the semi-finals for the first time this year. NWU made an excellent start to the match when their star player Rebaone Mojahi scored a spectacular goal from outside the 18-yard box in the fourth minute.

The pitch was slippery and wet due to overnight rain, making it tricky for the players to play their usual game. TUT goalkeeper Rofhiwa Dzivhani will argue that her goal line area was wet and muddy, which contributed to the first goal.

TUT raised their game after the early setback. Pride Nthite hit the underside of the crossbar with a powerful shot in the eighth minute with NWU goalkeeper Tladi Mmabatho rooted to the spot. Mmabatho then denied Yolisa Ntsaba with a brilliant save.

NWU captain Tsholofelo Nameleng and her defensive partner Hlalefeng Moledi also had their hands full in containing the TUT attackers. In the 21st minute, Tshogofatso Motlogelwa equalised for the Tshwane side with a beautiful finish on the edge of the 18-yard area.

Alphane Tshegofatso’s fantastic finish then gave TUT a 2-1 lead at half-time. Mojahi scored her second goal for NWU with a tap-in from an assist by Paballo Maphala early in the second half, but TUT hit back when Pride Nthite’s long-range shot found the back of the net.

Tshegofatso then completed her brace with a cracker in the 65th minute and Nthite put the icing on the cake with her team’s fifth goal on the stroke of full-time. Nthite was named the FNB Player of the Match and ended the tournament with four goals.

DUT 1-2 UL

UL finished their campaign on a high with a hard-fought win in the seventh-place playoff at the Tuks C-Field. Both teams had finished bottom of their respective groups after suffering three defeats, with DUT conceding 17 goals and UL 12.

The Limpopo students proved too strong for the tournament debutants in the first half, with goals from Karabo Mochekgechekge (23th minute) and Princes Aphane (27th) giving them a 2-0 lead at the break.

DUT pulled a goal back two minutes into the second half through Andiswa Mfeka, but UL were able to hang on to their lead. UL goalkeeper Kgothatso Manamela won the FNB Player of the Match award.

Varsity Football fixtures (Monday, 4 October):

Women’s final

UWC vs UP-Tuks (17:00, Tuks Stadium, SuperSport Variety 4, DStv channel 209)

Men’s final

UJ vs UFS (19:15, Tuks Stadium, SuperSport Variety 4, DStv channel 209)