UWC were in no mood to make their Varsity Women’s Football semi-final clash against UFS a nervy affair as they beat the Bloemfontein team 7-0 to book their trip to Mafikeng for the final.
With emotions running high and pride on the table, both the UFS and the UWC teams were well aware that the stakes were very high. Either go big or go home.
Immediately after kick-off, UFS commenced forward in hopes of catching their opponents under their spell. Unsurprisingly, UWC had done their homework prior to the match and it proved to be working in their favour.
In the 7th minute of the game, UWC’s Janice Smith broke the deadlock by blasting into the UFS goal with a simple but unstoppable shot.
This bruised Kovsies’ ego and caused them to seemingly doubt their original game plan. The UWC team pounced on the opportunity immediately and started to make sure that the ball remained moving within the opponent’s half.
Kovsies, though, had two chances to score just before the UWC were awarded a free kick in the 18th minute which Mbaliyethu Mhlongo converted for 2-0.
The mission started to fall in UWC’s favour as their opponents began to slow down their attacks and increase their defence line. Despite that, in the 27th minute, Smith scored her second goal, with the 3-0 scoreline adding more devastation to an already defeated Kovsies.
Action did not end in the second half but it escalated. Intoxicated with a spirit of winning, UWC did not let their obvious win get in the way of scoring more goals and Kovsies began to show signs of giving up.
With their defence all over the place, Smith blessed her team with yet another goal in 57th minute – to complete her hat-trick. Moments afterwards, Khanya Xesi, joined the goal-scoring squad.
As everyone expected that goal to be the final one, with two minutes left, Smith snaked her way to the UFS goal post yet again, ending the match on 7-0.
UWC (3) 7 Janice Smith 4, Mbaliyethu Mhlongo 2, Khanya Xesi
UFS 0
FNB Player of the Match: Janice Smith (UWC)
Debonairs Pizza Real Deal Save of the Match: Nolubabalo Sishuba (UWC)
MTN Pulse Moment of Brilliance: Noxolo Magudu (UFS)
UWC: 25 Londeka Khawula, 3 Molatelo Kobo, 4 Simnikiwe Mhlakaza, 7 Antonia Maponya, 9 Khanya Xesi, 10 Babalwa Mngxunya, 13 Mbaliyethu Mhlongo, 14 Nolubabalo Sishuba, 15 Sinegugu Zondi, 17 Bongeka Gamede (captain), 18 Janice Smith.
Replacements: 1 Regirl Ngobeni, 8 Puleng Moremi, 11 Morongwa Sekgobela, 12 Holofelang Manyama, 24 Tshegofatso Senanya.
Coach: Thinasonke Mbuli
UFS: 25 Malebo Makhomompe, 3 Uma Jakalase, 4 Mogoshadi Mphahlele, 6 Nontokazi Mtshali, 7 Noxolo Magudu (captain), 8 Ashley Tsosane, 9 Sisipo Nxasana, 10 Zikhona Ntlebi, 15 Thembisile Msimanga, 22 Thoko Mooi, 23 Mating Monokoane.
Replacements: 2 Ndivhudzannyi Madzhie, 5 Nonhlakanipho Masondo, 11 Nomasonto Msibi, 12 Karabo Mosime, 13 Ntsamaeng Tsotetsi, 18 Christen-Lee van Wyk, 19 Sesethu Malitshe.
Coach: Godfrey Tenoff
By Theo Vlei
