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.
FNB Player of the Match: Philisa Mjambane (WSU)
Samsung Moment of Brilliance: Zintle Maneli (WSU)
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.
By Bronwen Bain
