Round 2 of the Varsity Men’s Football saw a shock result and some big wins on Thursday, 1 August, as VUT hammered TUT by four goals to nil, UP-Tuks showed no mercy as they came out 4-1 victors over helpless CUT while the NWU Eagles pickes up a crucial away win against 2023 semi-finalists UWC.
VUT 4-0 TUT
Defending Champions TUT were looking for a much-improved performance after their disappointing one-all draw against the UWC at home last week when they faced VUT in their second encounter.
VUT started the brighter, knitting the ball among themselves but with no end-product early on. Nonetheless, VUT’s control of the match paid dividends as they found the back of the net in the 30th minute, courtesy of holding midfielder Lehlohonolo Ncambe.
With Bushy Moloi’s men still smarting, VUT scored their second goal four minutes later, this time with Lucky Raphala making no mistake in the penalty box, 2-0 to the home side.
It became the Sibusiso Motsepa show in the second half, with the left-winger scoring the third in the 48th minute, it became apparent that this would be a long night for TUT. Motsepa capitalized on poor defending from TUT when he scored from the penalty spot, making it 4-0, a double whammy for Moloi’s men when they received a second yellow card, as their defender went for an early shower.
VUT controlled much of the game with thirty minutes remaining and a man up; dictating the pace of the game, passing it among themselves and trying to invite the stubborn TUT defense towards them, however, it remained 4-0 at the end of the match.
Scorers: Lehlohonolo Ncambe, Lucky Raphala, Sibusiso Motsepa 2 (VUT).
FNB Player of the Match: Kgahlisho Kgomoeswana (VUT).
VUT: Tebogo Mosia, Kgotso Nhlapo, Gontse Kole, Kamohelo Ramalefane, Perceverance Mashabane, Lehlohonolo Ncambe, Marumo Lekoloane, Lucky Raphala, Kgahlisho Kgomoeswana, Sibusiso Motsepa, Sibusiso Baloyi.
TUT: Luyanda Mandindi, Precious Mohale, Katlego Motlhale, Mnqobi Khumalo, Karabo Rangata, Anda Yamile, Thuso Mlamla (C), Thobani Ngwenya, Swazi Kupa, Tebatso Manyane, Lesedi Khosi.
UFS 1-0 DUT
UFS Men’s Football recorded their second win of the 2024 Varsity Men’s Football on Thursday with a 1-0 win against the DUT at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein.
The opening exchanges saw the two teams sizing each other up, but it was the hosts, UFS, who found their rhythm a lot quicker in the game, and when they did, they managed to set up camp in the DUT half of the field. Tested the defence of the visitors from KZN on numerous occasions, but DUT was very good on the counter.
The deadlock was broken when the hard-working Omphemetse Athibeng, who was the player of the match, collected a beautiful long cross, and with his second touch drove the back into the back on the net to put UFS in the lead. UFS had a few more chances before the break, but the score remained unchanged at 1-0 for the Free Staters at half-time.
The second half was a lot less entertaining than the first 45 minutes and the intensity just wasn’t there from either side. It struggled to get going and this could be because of several lengthy stoppages for injured players to receive medical treatment. The match ended with UFS walking away with all the points.
Scorers: Omphemetse Athibeng (UFS)
FNB Player of the Match: Omphemetse Athibeng (UFS)
UFS: Omphemetse Matlhogonolo Athibeng, Arlonso Diedricks, Obakeng Seekoei, Thandolwethu Khoza, Boy Rantsoti, Moeti Mofokeng, Iviwe Dyabuza, Samkelo Nakedi, Jarome Jansen, Sandile Mhlanga, Tisetso Daniel Seodinyane.
DUT: Philasande Mthembu, Xolani Mkhonza (C), Sifundo Ngema, Theo Nzama, Awande Ngidi, Alibongwe Mthiyane, Amahle Mkhize, Mlamuli Hlongwa, Thobani Jwara, Nhlakanipho Ngwenya, Nkululeko Nkosi.
CUT 1-4 UP-Tuks
The visiting team's 3 goals came from a set piece after forcing the CUT to commit crucial mistakes outside the box.
The visitors pressed CUT for most of the match which worked in its favor, by half time Tuks were leading CUT by 1-0 through Raymond Tshwane Matlamela strike to hand the Pretoria based side something to chew at the interval.
Things then changed for the worse for the CUT after Tuks upped their tempo and once again pressed the home side to cause crucial errors.
Tuks later doubled their lead in the 51st minute through a powerful shot from man of the match, Samukelo Ngodela, who slotted the ball outside the box. However, soon afterward the home team pulled on back, giving hope to supporters on the stand courtesy of Pogisho Dikole. But their hopes were soon dashed after the visiting team increased their lead to 3-1 and later 4-1 with goals from Tshepiso Mahlangu, Nkosana Shabalala respectively.
The night saw Tuks walking away with the maximum points on the road, winning the match 4-1.
Scorers:
CUT – Pogisho Dikole
UP-Tuks - Raymond Tshwane Matlamela, Samukelo Ngodela, Tshepiso Mahlangu, Nkosana Shabalala.
FNB Player of the Match: Samukelo Ngodela (UP-Tuks)
CUT: Kananelo Sehebeng, Ramokhafeng Montsi, Jeffrey Mokoena, Simo Ndlovu (C), Alwande Sibiya, Tiisetso Mpholoana, Pogisho Dikole, Mzwakhe Shabalala, Nkosingiphile Lubisi, Oratile Mothibedi, Mthabiseni Mlambo.
UP-Tuks: Jayden Van Der Walt, Khotatso Balepile, Nkosana Shabalala, Edward Rankwe, Tshepiso Mahlangu (C), Paballo Mamabolo, Joshua Wood, Matome Rangata, Raymond Tshwane Matlamela, Samukelo Ngodela, Mnqobi Mkhize.
UWC 0-1 NWU
In crisp and cool Cape Town weather conditions, NWU stunned their hosts with a second-half goal to claim a (0-1) victory against UWC in the Varsity on Thursday in Bellville.
The win lifts NWU off the bottom of the log and leaps UWC while an emphatic 4-0 victory for VUT means that the side from Bellville finds themselves in the second-last position - based on goal difference - after two rounds.
Despite both sides pushing hard in the opening half, the teams were deadlocked on 0-0 as the players headed into the sheds for the halftime break.
It was all NWU in the second half with the visitors playing with a lot more confidence and bravado while in contrasting style the hosts held back and played a very defensive type of football. It was this fearless style of the NWU side that resulted in them being the first to get onto the scoreboard.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 62nd minute when NWU scored through a well-worked effort in the midfield catching the UWC defence off guard. Momelezi Mngati fired the ball into the top right corner, UWC 0-1 NWU.
It was a spirited effort from the home side in the final 15 minutes of the match, but it was all in vain as they remained goalless after two rounds in the 2024 Varsity Football season.
Scorers: Momelezi Mngati (NWU)
FNB Player of the Match: Momelezi Mngati (NWU)
UWC: Leandro De Sousa, Vuyani Ncontsa, Arnold Dube, Shuaib Martin, Ranieri Salvini, Damian Overmeyer (C), Somila Kostile, Jadan Zeeman, Qhayisa Lekata, Leathan Croats, Siyanda Mabadi.
NWU: Kamogelo Matane, Olebogeng Moeti (C), Lucky Letwaba, Sousa Mathe, Lucas Seromo, Thabang Majoro, Xolani Masethi, Momelezi Mngati, Reatlegile Kgosithebe, Pascual Tivane, Itumeleng Selemela.
Fixtures HERE
Tickets HERE
.png)
Comments