The University of the Western Cape (UWC) women's football team will play their third consecutive Varsity Football Women's final after beating UP-Tuks 1-0 in a hard-fought semi-final victory in Pretoria last night.
UWC will face off against the University of Johannesburg (UJ), who dethroned them last year from the title they won in 2021. The Cape side will also get an opportunity for revenge after the Orange Army inflicted them with their only defeat in this year's tournament when UWC went down 2-1 in the opening group game on Friday.
In last night's tightly contested clash at the Tshwane University of Technology, the first half was a close battle, with the statistics favouring UWC, who looked threatening with their speedy wingers Nabeelah Galant and Tiffany Kortjie.
Tuks struggled to create clear-cut opportunities in the opening 20 minutes as UWC successfully dealt with any threats. The Cape side’s decision to recall former captain and Banyana Banyana star Bongeka Gamede from her break paid off as she brilliantly commanded and controlled the game from the middle of the park to earn a deserved Player of the Match accolade.
The first and only goal, however, came in the 22nd minute when striker Chelsea Daniels received a pass on the edge of the Tuks box, where she shrugged off a challenge to edge home the opener. That is how the scoreline remained at the interval.
The second stanza saw the arm wrestle continue with UWC moving the ball swiftly, combining well, but with Tuks remaining resolute at the back. Tuks tried to find a way back but struggled to get their goal poachers going, with the ladies from the Western Cape keeping their composure to keep any threats out.
UWC stood firm and threw all at their disposal to hold onto their first-half lead to set up a repeat of the 2022 final against UJ on Saturday. Kick-off for that game is 11h00 and the game will be televised live on SuperSport.
UWC (1) 1 (Chelsea Daniels 22)
Player of the match: Bongeka Gamede (UWC).
UWC: Siphesihle Dlamini, Sinegugu Zondi, Lindokuhle Gladile, Lonathemba Mhlongo, Fikile Magama, Khanyisa Manengela, Bongeka Gamede, Katlego Mabuza, Tiffany Kortjie, Chelsea Daniels, Nabeelah Galant.
Head coach: Msekeli Mvalo
Match summary courtesy Vasrity Sports Media. Image by Catherine Kotze/Varsity Sports Media.
UWC will face off against the University of Johannesburg (UJ), who dethroned them last year from the title they won in 2021. The Cape side will also get an opportunity for revenge after the Orange Army inflicted them with their only defeat in this year's tournament when UWC went down 2-1 in the opening group game on Friday.
In last night's tightly contested clash at the Tshwane University of Technology, the first half was a close battle, with the statistics favouring UWC, who looked threatening with their speedy wingers Nabeelah Galant and Tiffany Kortjie.
Tuks struggled to create clear-cut opportunities in the opening 20 minutes as UWC successfully dealt with any threats. The Cape side’s decision to recall former captain and Banyana Banyana star Bongeka Gamede from her break paid off as she brilliantly commanded and controlled the game from the middle of the park to earn a deserved Player of the Match accolade.
The first and only goal, however, came in the 22nd minute when striker Chelsea Daniels received a pass on the edge of the Tuks box, where she shrugged off a challenge to edge home the opener. That is how the scoreline remained at the interval.
The second stanza saw the arm wrestle continue with UWC moving the ball swiftly, combining well, but with Tuks remaining resolute at the back. Tuks tried to find a way back but struggled to get their goal poachers going, with the ladies from the Western Cape keeping their composure to keep any threats out.
UWC stood firm and threw all at their disposal to hold onto their first-half lead to set up a repeat of the 2022 final against UJ on Saturday. Kick-off for that game is 11h00 and the game will be televised live on SuperSport.
MATCH FACTS
UP-Tuks 0UWC (1) 1 (Chelsea Daniels 22)
Player of the match: Bongeka Gamede (UWC).
UWC: Siphesihle Dlamini, Sinegugu Zondi, Lindokuhle Gladile, Lonathemba Mhlongo, Fikile Magama, Khanyisa Manengela, Bongeka Gamede, Katlego Mabuza, Tiffany Kortjie, Chelsea Daniels, Nabeelah Galant.
Head coach: Msekeli Mvalo
Match summary courtesy Vasrity Sports Media. Image by Catherine Kotze/Varsity Sports Media.
