21 September 2018 – UFS kicked off the game and built up possession very early on, creating many chances but nothing coming of them. Sisipo Nxasana got the breakthrough UFS needed when she scored from a cross in the 12th minute to put then 1-0 up. UKZN had to defend for the rest of the half, doing well to ensure that UFS wouldn’t find a way through.

UKZN got the second half underway and got a penalty early on, but Zinhle Mlaba struck it over the crossbar, leaving the score at 1-0 to UFS. Things didn’t get any better for UKZN when Azile Makiua scored a long range shot to extend UFS’s lead to 2-0 with only ten minutes left to play.

Opportunities still kept knocking for UFS, but UKZN’s Zandile Nyamazane put her body on the line to save every shot.
By the time the final whistle blew, UFS had done enough to hold onto their 2-0 lead and walk away with the three points.

FNB Player of the Match: Uma Jalalase (Kovsies)
Samsung Moment of Brilliance: Noxolo Magudu (Kovsies)

Score
UFS: 2
Goals:
 Sisipo Nxasana, Azile Makiua.

UKZN: 0
Goals: /

Teams
UFS:
 3. Uma Jalalase, 1. Katlego Sebotha, 22. Thembisile Msimanga, 12. Karabo Masime, 8. Nomsa Mathontsi, 2. Bakang Tsosane, 4. Mogashadi Mphahlele, 13. Azile Makiua, 7. Noxolo Magudu, 9. Sisipo Nxasana, 5. Manini Lethebe.
Reserves: 19. Silindile Conco, 15. Trinity Melakeco, 18. Vusani Ramuvhundu, 6. Pheladi Tleone, 21. Masekake Letuta, 16. Zikhona Ntlebi, 10. Ndiuvhudzannyl Madzhie.

UKZN: 20. Zandile Nyamazane, 5. Senelisiwe Jitajita, 6. Samukelisiwe Sibizi, 2. Babalwa Mbali, 11. Nomonde Nzama, 13. Nomasonto Khoza, 8. Zinhle Mlaba, 9. Nkosingithandile Mazibuko, 3. Danelle Gorge, 7. Zamalotshwa Xaba, 10. Sphokazi Ngeleka.
Reserves: 1. Nomnotho Khumalo, 28. Nompilo Khumalo, 14. Nonhlakanipho Mazibuko.

UWC and Tuks play out to a stalemate

There was nothing between two of the competition’s strongest teams as Tuks and UWC played out to a 0-0 draw in Potchefstroom on Thursday evening.

Tuks won the toss and kicked off the first match against their opponents UWC. Alexandra Michael and Thalea Smidt were dominating play for the Pretoria side, who had the upper hand in the first 10 minutes of the game with most of the ball possession.

The tables quickly turned when UWC took charge. Their first attempt for the net was an offside goal, unfortunately disallowed. With the second one goalkeeper Mapaseka Mpuru caught the ball just as it was about to roll into the net, preventing a score. Corner kicks by Bongeka Gamede couldn’t find the head of a teammate. By half time no goals were scored.

UWC kicked off the second half of the match. Both teams had more than three injuries on the field. The final whistle blow and no goals was scored by both teams. Ending the match with zero each. Michael from Tuks was the FNB Player of the Match.

WSU get one over on UniZulu

WSU came out guns blazing when they beat UniZulu 3-1 at the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds on Thursday 20 September.

WSU posed a threat from kick off, making their intentions clear very early on. Five minutes in they got a corner and Philisa Mjambane made no mistake when she headered the ball straight into the back of the net. UniZulu were still not out of the clear after conceding another corner almost immediately, but this time there was no way through their defence. WSU’s misfortune continued when Sinayo Kupiso’s freekick hit the crossbar and was later saved.

Philisa Mjambane got her second of the evening in the 30th minute after a mistake from goalkeeper Bathabile Mthembu led to an easy goal. However, UniZulu finally got the hope they needed when substitute Bonisiwe Zulu scored from a one-on-one with WSU goal keeper Nokuphumla Mpatsiyana, leaving UniZulu chasing a one goal deficit going into half time.

The second half got off to a relatively slow start, with only one penalty being conceded by UniZulu, but Bathabile Mthembu made a vital save to keep the score at 2-1. The ball spent was back and forth between both teams when finally, with 15 minutes left of play, Siziphiwe Gwazela scored her brace from almost 30 metres out to put WSU 3-1 ahead. UniZulu waited until the dying minutes of the game to get back into the game, but their attempts proved futile when their shots were saved and the game ended 3-1 in WSU’s favour.

Score
WSU: 3
Goals:
 Philisa Mjambane (2),  Siziphiwe Gwazela

UniZulu: 1
Goals:
 Bonisiwe Zulu

Teams
WSU:
 20. Nokuphumla Mpatsiyana, 13. Namhla Shumayela, 3. Lusanda Sishuba, 9. Siphelele Dlalo, 5. Anaye Ngomani, 17. Siziphiwe Gwazela, 12. Sinayo Kupiso, 15. Zikona Mtambeki, 28. Melissa Nanzi, 10. Zintle Maneli, 11. Philisa Mjambane.
Reserves: 1. Thabisa Baleni, 14. Balisa Calaza, 21. Bukeka Danisa, 8. Esihle Mpelane, 4. Mandisa Thuli.

UniZulu: 20 Bathabile Mthembu, 15. Lungile Mthembu, 27. Nomfundo Ndimande, 17. Zanele Mchunu, 28. Nonjabula Mthethwa, 12. Nokuthula Nzama, 6. Mbaliyethu Mhlongo, 3. Nelile Gulwa, 28. Nokuphila Zabolo, 21. Fezile Jali, 16. Phindile Shangase.
Reserves: 14. Simthandile Khoza, 7. Thobeka Hlongwana, 23. Nokwanda Ngubane, 5. Bonisiwe Zulu, 24. Sphumelele Ngcobe, 13. Zonke Ngubane, 2. Zanele Mthembu.

TUT emerge victorious against UJ in seven-goal thriller

The defending champions got off to a bumpy start as they came from behind to defeat UJ in an opening round clash in Potchefstroom on Thursday evening

The University of Johannesburg’s Amanda Mthandi and Molwati Mathebula scored within the first five minutes of the match against Tshwane University of Technology. The team clearly wasn’t done when another one hit the net, again scored by Mthandi.

TUT didn’t back down and Katlego Khwinana scored for her team as the comeback began. In a penalty kick, TUT’s Gabonnelwe Kekana scored the second for the Red Machine. By half time the score was UJ 3, TUT 2.

The second half kicked off and Lizzel Mokoene scored for TUT to complete the comeback, tying the scores at three apiece. In the final 5 minutes of the match Hildah Magaia scored the winner for TUT.

The victory went to Tshwane University of Technology, beating University of Johannesburg 4-3, with Amanda Mthandi of UJ being awarded FNB Player of the Match.

Score
TUT: 4
Goals:
 Gabonnelwe Kekana, Hildah Magaia, Katlego Khwinana, Lizzel Mokoene

UJ: 3
Goals: 
Amanda Mthandi (2), Molwati Mathebula