UCT earned their second victory of the tournament, beating Tuks 2-1 at a windy Fanie du Toit Field on Friday.
Tuks looked eager to put their Thursday evening loss to TUT behind them, looking dangerous and fired up in the opening exchanges against UCT. Tuks’ no.10 was giving UCT’s defence headaches as early as the sixth minute, firing in the first shot of the match, safely into the hands of Sibabalo Noludwe.
But despite Tuks’ dominance, it was UCT who drew first blood. Christine Goliath was fouled just outside the box. She whipped the resulting free kick in, which was brilliantly met by the head of Sierra Klucikowski into the bottom corner, although Tuks’ keeper, Andrea Sumaraj, did fumbles to let the ball through. Was was 1-0 after just six minutes.
Tuks didn’t let the early goal trouble them and in the 15th minute, Alexandra Michael fired in an unstoppable free kick from 35 yards out and Tuks were back in it at 1-1.
Tuks would rue their chances on the stroke of half time, when Klucikowski fired in from just outside the box, curling the ball into the top right corner. Sumaraj stood no chance, as UCt went into the break 2-1 up despite Tuks dominating possession.
UCT were a different team in the second half. Although Tuks had most of the possession in the opening minutes, UCT grew into the match and bossed the final quarter.
They could have been three up when Esther Sampson whipped one in and hit the top left corner in 45th minute, but the match remained a tight affair. UCT looked far more structured in the second half and Tuks had far fewer opportunities than in the first 35 minutes.
The final minutes were scrappy, with Tuks flooding players into the UCT box. Tuks pushed hard in the final minutes, but a Temakwanati Mncina volleyed effort over the bar was as close as they came.
FNB Player of the Match: Sierra Klucikowski (UCT)
Scorers:
Tuks: Alexandra Michael
UCT: Sierra Klucikowski (2)
Teams:
Tuks: Lebogang Mabatle, Andrea Sumaraj, Anri Krugel, Zinise Norris, Khutso Mojadibe, Mahlodi Nchabeleng, Alexandra Michael, Tania Oliviera, Duduzile Qwabe, Vuyela Makhura, Shannon Morgan
Subs: Amilcar Thobejane, Lemile Groenewald, Sonia Shako, Moyahabo Monyemange, Matlakala Mahowa, Temakwanati Mncina
UCT: Sibabalo Noludwe, Shalom Chitanda, Robyn Ausmeier, Sarah Sweetapple, Nina Woermann, Esther Sampson, Thara Alcock, Christine Goliath, Katherine Atkinson, Rachel Wilhelm, Sierra Klucikowski
Subs: Gretta Sindayihebura, Candice McConney, Maloney Rachel Lois, Nonjabulo Mavimbela, Kateko Pule, Emelia Aggouras, Ine Geitung
