TUT….. (2) 3
Gabonnelwe Kekana 9 (p), Hildah Magaia 45+, 90
UJ……. (0) 2
Nicole Michael 55 (p), Amanda Mthandi 61
14 September 2019 — Tshwane University of Technology are now top of the SAFA Women’s National League (SWNL) table after beating University of Johannesburg 3-2 at TUT Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday.
A late goal by brace scorer Hildah Magaia was enough to take the air out of UJ, who came into this tie hungry to secure their first win of their league matches.
This result counts as UJ’s third defeat out of their now three matches played.
They are now 11th on the 12-team SWNL standings, one place above Durban Ladies with a better goal difference.
TUT’s intentions of wanting to win this match were made clear on how they approached this match from the onset.
They took the game to the visitors with so much aggression in their attacking play, that UJ was forced to play on the back foot for the most part of the first half.
TUT’s first goal came in the ninth minute when referee Lindiwe Thwala pointed to the spot kick.
Gabonnelwe Kekana made full use of that opportunity, slotting the ball past the opposition goal to give her side the desired lead.
Magaia, who played like a woman possessed with the devil for the most part of this match, gave her side a 2-0 lead just before the halftime break.
In the second half, UJ toiled really hard to get themselves back into the game which they were so determined not to lose.
That mental approach played a massive part in how they scored the two goals through Nicole Michael and Amanda Mthandi.
In the 55th minute, UJ were awarded a penalty spot kick, which Michael coolly converted.
Mthandi made it 2-2 just after the hour mark to give the visitors the needed hope to push for a possible win.
However, that was not to be as Magaia scored the winner in the dying minutes of the match.
TUT coach, Sipho Mabuza, said he was pleased with how his charges reacted to the challenge UJ brought in the second half, adding that they showed character in their play.
“This is the same mental strength our girls had to show in the previous two league matches we played in building to this tie,” Mabuza said. “We had to fight really hard and I am happy with how my charges responded to the challenge we had in this match as well.
“This is one hungry side and we will take it one game at a time with the ambition of winning every match we will participate in.”