Unbeaten runs come to an end for both UJ and WIts
JOBURG – Local university football teams fail to end in style.
With qualification to the knockout stages of this year’s edition of Varsity Football secured, Wits University and the University of Johannesburg went into the final round of the league matches with nothing to lose.
However, both teams couldn’t end their seasons on a high note as Wits were beaten 4–2 by Tshwane University of Technology (Tut) at home while UJ lost 1–0 away to North-West University.
Despite their first loss of the season, UJ stayed top of the table and Wits fell from second to fourth with their first home loss of the season.
FULL TIME and a hattrick from Godfrey Mahlala has sealed the victory for @Sport_TUT over Wits. Both teams through to the semi's though.
Wits 2 – 4 TUT#VarsityFootball proudly brought to you by @SamsungMobileSA, @DebonairsPizza and @FNBSA pic.twitter.com/kU6s8XkABc
— Varsity Football (@VarsityDiski) September 6, 2018
The Wits and Tut match was highly entertaining as fans were given a six-goal thriller. A hat-trick from Tut’s Godfrey Mahlala and an 88th-minute goal from Emmanuel Mahlangu gave Tut and their supporters the last laugh.
In the UJ match, the first half was characterised by spectacular saves from both keepers. An impressive effort by UJ’s goalkeeper Sandile Ngobese in the 32nd minute gave the boys in orange a fighting chance to win the match.
But Banele Hlophe spoilt the party with his 62nd minute goal which gave North-West the lead and ultimately the win.
Classy and composed chip over the keeper. Here's the goal from Banele Hlophe that gave @theNWU the lead.
NWU 1 – 0 UJ #VarsityFootball pic.twitter.com/0rUsapZOKb
— Varsity Football (@VarsityDiski) September 6, 2018
With the league stage of the tournament over, four teams remain and both Pretoria and Johannesburg are set for local derbies.
The University of Pretoria will take on Tut while UJ will take on neighbours Wits in the semi-finals which means that this year’s final will have a team from Pretoria and Johannesburg.
The Pretoria derby will take place at 4pm and Johannesburg’s at 6.15pm, on 13 September.
Not one, but two massive derby games for the #VarsityFootball semi-finals!
The business end of the tournament could not get any more #iyachesa!
Proudly brought to you by @SamsungMobileSA, @DebonairsPizza and @FNBSA pic.twitter.com/l74W0zZvFz
— Varsity Football (@VarsityDiski) September 6, 2018
