Round two of the 2022 Varsity Football tournament was a bit more tactical than round one, but the atmosphere in the stands was even more electric. Defending champions, the University of Johannesburg came from behind to pile more misery on record winners UP-Tuks, while the Noble Men from the NWU Mafikeng climbed to the top of the log.
UJ put more misery on Tuks
The record-winners hosted the defending champions of the competition as both tried to recover from their first-round defeats at Tuks Stadium. Tuks opened the scoring in the fifth minute when captain Nhlanhla Mabaso put the home side ahead. The Orange Army, though, found an equaliser in the 59th minute through Philane Masondo, who finished off a great combination play after being set up with a cheeky back heel by Puleng Bapela. UJ completed their turn-around in the 69th minute when Thulani Zandamela tapped in from close range following a huge blunder by the Tuks goalkeeper. UJ made things worse for the hosts when Thanda Madiba netted his side’s third in injury time, leaving the record champions at the bottom of the log with zero points and six goals conceded in just two matches.
FT score: Tuks 1-3 UJ
Goals: 5’ 1-0 Nhlanhla Mabaso, 59’ 1-1 Philane Masondo, 69’ 1-2 Thulani Zandamela, 90+2’ 1-3 Thanda Madiba
Man of the Match: Advocate Mokwena (UJ)
NWU move to the top of the log
2019 winners NWU Mafikeng were hosting last year’s runners-up UFS Kovsies at Mafikeng Stadium. Both teams started with a win last week, but it was the Noble Men who made it two wins from two games on Thursday. The match was a rather cagey affair in the first half but NWU eventually scored the opener in the 68th minute, with Omphile Shuping finishing off a superb attack that started at the back. The home side made it 2-0 just a few minutes later thanks to a superb strike from outside the box by Lehlohonolo Mohlabai. The win saw NWU climb to the top of the log with six points.
FT score: NWU 2-0 UFS Kovsies
Goals: 68’ 1-0 Omphile Shuping, 77’ 2-0 Lehlohonolo Mohlabai
Man of the Match: Lehlohonolo Mohlabai (NWU)
UKZN hold Wits for a draw
In the early kick-off, Delron Buckley’s side welcomed the Educated Footballers at Peter Booysen park, as both sides were looking for their first win. However, the match ended in a 1-1 draw, with both teams collecting their first point of this year’s tournament. Wits opened the score just after half-time when captain, Kal Laing headed the ball into the back of the net following a corner. The Impi, though, found an equaliser in the 80th minute when a deflected free-kick from just outside of the box was spilt by the Wits goalkeeper, finding Phumlani Mkhize for a simple tap-in, causing the stadium to erupt with the home fans in jubilation.
FT score: UKZN 1-1 Wits
Goals: 49’ 0-1 Kal Laing, 80’ 1-1 Phumlani Mkhize
Man of the Match: Nkosinathi Sibiya (Wits)
TUT & VUT collect first goalless draw of Varsity Football 22
Two-time winners TUT met VUT at the TUT Stadium, trying to add to their impressive first-round win against defending champions UJ. And despite an entertaining first half where both teams pushed at a frenetic pace and high-pressing tactics it remained 0-0 at the break. The second half was more of the same with end-to-end action in the opening ten minutes but TUT had more of the clear-cut chances. The Red Army also saw a goal ruled out for off-side 15 minutes before time, but VUT managed to hold on for a valuable away point as both sides remained unbeaten. It was the first 0-0 of this year’s Varsity Football competition, with both sides now sitting on four points from two games.
FT score: TUT 0-0 VUT
Goals: none
Man of the Match: Anda Yamile (TUT)
