UWC secured a home semfinal in this year’s Varsity Football tournament after they beat TUT 1-0 in Cape Town on Monday.

The Cape side cannot be caught at the top of the standings after bagging their fifth win in a row thanks to the game’s only goal from Josh Silent. They are also the only unbeaten side in the competition, while TUT have dropped to third on the log.

After a good start by both teams, it was UWC who had the game’s first real chance to open the scoring in the first ten minutes when Thulani Mkosi hit the outside of the upright following Tapelo Sixishe’s saved attempt.

TUT started to struggle a bit halfway through the first half with UWC taking full advantage of the wind behind their backs to create numerous opportunities at the Pretoria side’s goal.

The home side were stopped by some fantastic defending by TUT as they were completely in control of the game and dominating possession.

With half-time fast approaching TUT’s only option was to formulate attacks on the counter and that they did when Themba Ndlovu managed to round UWC’s captain and keeper Reon October only to be thwarted by the Cape side’s recovering defence.

Both teams eventually went back to the change rooms goalless in what was an entertaining first half.

The teams were not back on the field long after the break when Silent found the breakthrough with a header off a Sixishe cross to give his team the lead.

TUT upped the temp after that goal and would have been level if it was not for UWC’s Ashwin Kounzie deflecting Thabang Mahlangu’s shot away from goal.

With TUT starting to dominate the midfield exchanges, UWC head coach Salie Adams then brought on Ryan Steer for Nhlanhla Manana to shore things up.

UWC had a chance to double their lead soon after when Sixishe again put in a brilliant cross in the TUT box only for Ayanda Nkukwana to connect with a poor effort.

UWC continued to look dangerous on the counter as TUT pushed a number of their players forward in search of the game’s equalising goal.

Sidney Seromo had another chance for TUT, but his shot was deflected for a corner. That corner nearly resulted in a goal for TUT but the home side’s desperate defence saved them.

The home side eventually held on for the win in what was a breath-taking game.

Samsung Super Striker: Thulani Mkosi

FNB Man of the Match: Tapelo Sixishe

Scorers:

For UWC: Josh Silent

For TUT: None

Teams:

UWC: 1 Reno October (captain), 6 Kahuna Bongo, 2 Marshall Jansen, 3 Keenan Davis, 13 Ashwin Kounzie, 18 Than do Zwolle, 7 Thulani Mkosi, 20 Nhlanhla Manana, 19 Josh Silent, 10 Tapelo Sixishe, 14 Ayanda Nkukwana.
Substitutes: 16 Amanzo Jacobs, 17 Mfundo Majola, 23 Ryan Steer, 15 Lwando Ngqwemla, 21 Chadwin Lotters, 12 Phiwokuhle Mpalala, 25 Shakeel Sadien.

TUT: 20 Lloyd Morulane, 9 Themba Ndlovu, 3 Khomotso Ledwaba, 2 Thabang Masiteng, 5 Elliot Seema (captain), 6 Sipho Sibiya, 13 Thabang Mahlangu, 7 Selby Madibana, 23 Sidney Seromo, 12 Masonwabe Sokanyile, 16 Tshepo Simelane.
Substitutes: 17 Thabang Moyau, 15 Phineas Raphela, 26 Tshepo Moramaga, 10 Itumeleng Mogotsi, 18 Mogau Mphahlele, 8 Thato Santos, 1 Simson Phelane.