The 2022 Women’s Varsity Football campaign kicked off with a bang on Tuesday, with 16 goals scored between the four games. While defending champions University of the Western Cape started their title defence with a win over Wits University in a replay of last year’s semi-final, the Shamase-twins took the University of Pretoria to the sword in our feature match.
GROUP B
Shamase twins help UJ to trash Tuks
UJ dominated proceedings for large parts of the first half and were unlucky in the 32nd minute when Refilwe Maseko only hit outside of the post. However, Sphumelele Shamase made it better in the fourth minute of injury time, scoring her side’s first goal of this year’s tournament after a fine combination play with her twin sister Thubelihle Shamase. Shamase completed her brace in the 49th minute after a nice counter-attack that started from a Tuks corner. Just two minutes later, Shamase completed her hat trick with a well-placed shot from inside the box after again being set up by her twin sister. UJ made it 4-0 in the 58th minute when Boitumelo Rasehlo beat the Tuks goalkeeper via a direct free-kick from long range.
Result: UJ 4-0 Tuks
Scorers: 35+4’ 1-0 Sphumelele Shamase, 49’ 2-0 Sphumelele Shamase, 51’ 3-0 Sphumelele Shamase, 58’ 4-0 Boitumelo Rasehlo
Woman of the Match: Sphumelele Shamase (UJ)
NWU & UL share spoils in 6-goal thriller
NWU took an early lead, through Noluthando Mhlontlo, who easily tapped in from close range after 10 minutes. However, UL found the equalizer following a corner in the 26th minute, with Boniswa Makhale punishing the NWU defence for failing to clear the ball at the back post. After the match went level into the break, UL took the lead for the first time in the match through Sharon Matabathe in the 45th minute. But it didn’t last long, as NWU equalised almost instantly through a scorching effort from outside the box by Lerato Monate. UL regained the lead in the 62nd minute when Amukelani Kanyan put the ball away from inside the box. But again their lead didn’t last long before Vonisiwe Maswanganyi equalised with a header following a corner.
Result: NWU 3-3 UL
Scorers: 10’ 1-0 Noluthando Mohlontlo, 26’ 1-1 Boniswa Makhale, 45’ 1-2 Sharon Matabathe, 46’ 2-2 Lerato Monate, 62’ 2-3 Amukelani Kanyan, 68’ 3-3 Vonisiwe Maswanganyi
Woman of the Match: Princes Aphane (UL)
GROUP A
TUT hammer DUT
The record champions from TUT were the clear favourites going into the tie after beating their opponents 7-0 last year. However, it took them 24 minutes to open the score with a well-taken free-kick from Tshogofatso Motlogelwa. Just a minute later, TUT doubled their lead, with an own goal by DUT. In the 31st minute, Yolisa Ntsabo made it 3-0, pouncing on a fine cross. The second half was less action-packed but TUT eventually scored the fourth goal in the 59th minute when Nombulelo Khumalo calmly slotted the ball past the DUT keeper after some great interplay from the right. In the 67th minute, Johanna Ramanna found another one for TUT, after a good run on the right, eventually lobbing the ball inside the frame to increase their lead.
Result: TUT 5-0 DUT
Scorers: 24’ 1-0 Tshogofatso Motlogelwa, 25’ 2-0 OG, 31’ 3-0 Yolisa Ntsabo, 59’ 4-0 Nombulelo Khumalo, 67’ 5-0 Johanna Ramanna
Woman of the Match: Nombulelo Khumalo (TUT)
Defending champs start with a win
The defending champions got off to a winning start after beating Wits by a solitary goal in a tightly-contested affair. There was nothing that separate the two side’s in the first half, which was low on highlights. However, things livened up in the second interval as Shakeerah Jacobs tested UWC keeper Siphesihle Dlamini for the first time in the 51st minute but the latter was up to the task. Dlamini was again called into action in the 56th minute denying Jacobs, who attempted a chip over the rushing keeper. Just a minute later UWC’s Lindokuhle Gladile punished the missed chances from Wits, by putting a powerful shot past Wits keeper Nthabiseng Ramaisa. UWC had a late chance to make it 2-0 but this time Gladile was denied her brace by Ramaisa.
Result: UWC 1-0 Wits
Scorers: 57’ 1-0 Lindokuhle Gladile
Woman of the Match: Lindokuhle Gladile (UWC)
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