UJ became the first team to mathematically guarantee their passage to the semi-final of the 2018 Varsity Football season. The log leaders are the only team with an unbeaten record in this year’s competition after five matches. It was another exciting round of matches on match day five as teams went all out looking to secure their spot in the knockout stages. But the less said about UWC the better. They scored a spectacular own goal. They were left scratching their heads and wondering what it could have been after their regrettable blunder against UKZN. Here are five things that we learned in round five.
UWC shot themselves in the foot
We knew beforehand that UWC’s away record was not the best, but nothing will justify them throwing a two-goal lead against the minnows of this year’s competition. How do you justify throwing away a solid two-goal lead? What UWC did was nothing but amateurish and they are now out of the running for a place in the semi-final after they worked so hard to get back into contention in the first place. They did a good job of fighting their way back into contention and now they have no one to blame but themselves. Credit to UKZN for coming back to force a thrilling 3-3 draw, but given the experience of UWC, this shouldn’t have happened. But what did we expect from UWC in the first place? They have mastered the art of dropping points away from home and this time it ended their slim hopes of entering the semi-final via the back door. Their dramatic collapse has cost them an arm and a leg. They are now left wondering what could have happened had they not let it slip. The less said about UWC the better.
UKZN collect their first point
Bravo! That is the word that can be best used to sum UKZN’s performance against UWC up. The tournament strugglers did not win the game but they won the hearts of the neutrals for their never-say-die attitude of coming back from a losing position to rescue a point. That was their first point on the board and it came in a game where nobody expected them to pick up anything. The 3-3 draw – a six-goal thriller will be among the best games of the tournament. Well done to the boys of UKZN for digging deep into their reserves to force an entertaining draw. They are the team of the week and deserve special praise for their performance.
UJ end TUT’s unbeaten run
For almost two seasons TUT had not lost a round robin game, but that proud record was ended by UJ. UJ were by far the better team in a tightly contested game in Round Five against TUT in the pick of the fourth round matches. UJ were full value for their 1-0 win in Soweto against this year’s favourites TUT. The best team on the night won the top of the table contest. UJ are the only unbeaten team in the tournament. They are entertaining and a disciplined team. Few will argue that they deserve their place in the last four.
UP-Tuks’s slow start can come back to haunt them
UP-Tuks are in a danger of missing out on the semi-final spots. The holders find themselves in fifth position with just two games to go. The pressure cooker is out to get them and they will need nerves of steel to sneak into the semis. They need to win their next two matches and hope that results elsewhere go in their favour. Can you imagine the tournament without Tuks in the knockout stages? We seem to be heading into that direction.
NWU and Tuks will eliminate each other
This match has the potential of a knockout tie. If Tuks win, they will give themselves breathing space and leave NWU with a mountain to climb. But the same thing can be said about NWU about Tuks. Victory for both teams could dash their hopes of semi-final place just like that.
By Charles Baloyi — Daily Sun and Sunday Sun sports writer
