The struggle for points continued for bottom of the table Thunderbirds Ladies. They suffered their ninth defeat in a row since the start of the 2024 Hollywoodbets Super League season – leaving them pointless.
This comes after the Eastern Cape side was handed a 5-1 drubbing by reigning league champion Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Saturday, 27 April.
With the result, Banyana ba Style retained their top spot on the table and also maintained their dominance over Thunderbirds. This was the seventh meeting between the two sides, and the Brazilians have won six with one encounter drawn.
Rhoda Mulaudzi (‘1) and Regina Mogolola (14’) did the damage in the first half with the visitors pulling one back after the break, but Malebogo Shawe (64’), who got a rare start, restored the two goal cushion. Then started the Andisiwe Mgcoyi show with two quick goals (81’, 85’) in four minutes to complete the rout as Sundowns Ladies reached 21 points, level with the University of Pretoria, but the defending champions have a superior goal difference.
It’ the fifth time this season that the Brazilians have scored five goals or more this season.
Second-placed University of Pretoria ensured they keep the pressure on the log leaders with a hard-fought 1-0 win over First Touch Ladies at the Baroka Global Village in Polokwane.
Makua Machaka’s (36’) goal in the first half was enough to hand the students their seventh win in a row – they last lost a match at the beginning of March in the opening fixture of the season, and they are yet to draw.
Together with UWC and Sundowns Ladies, they are the only teams to have been defeated once this season.
In Soweto, third-placed University of Johannesburg won the Varsity Derby when they defeated a struggling University of Fort Hare 2-nil at the UJ Soccer Stadium.
This was the first ever meeting between the two teams – Fort Hare was promoted to the Hollywoodbets Super League at the end of 2023.
UJ Ladies are on 19 points – two behind the leading pack of Sundowns Ladies and Amatuks.
Fort Hare is in 13th place on seven points after two wins, a draw and five losses.
Fourth-placed University of the Western Cape (UWC) cruised to a 5-nil victory over Durban Ladies at the King Zwelithini Stadium in the second match of a double header at the venue.
A brace from Fiona Ndlovu and one each from Philisa Mjambane, Khanya Xesi and Noxolo Cesane gave the Capetonians the win – their fifth in eight matches. The Blues are fourth on the table on 17 points, four off the pace, while the 14th placed Durban Ladies have now lost all their last five matches.
JVW were made to sweat for all three points by a stubborn TUT Matsatsantsa in a 3-2 victory at the UJ Soccer Stadium.
The Blue Diamonds found the back of the net through captain Robyn Moodaly, who scored a brace, while Gabriela Salgado got the other goal. Mokgethi Ramanna and Mamokgaase Senyatsi responded for TUT.
The win takes JVW to fifth place on the table on 16 points. The Tshwane outfit is eighth.
TS Galaxy Head Coach Sizwe Sibiya announced his return to the Mpumalanga side with a resounding 6-1 win over a struggling Lindelani Ladies at the King Zwelithini Stadium.
Nicole Michael scored a brace and was ably assisted by Nomvula Kgoale, Promise Selana, Busisiwe Ndimeni and Player of the Match, Mamello Makhabane.
This was Sibiya’s first match in charge after he was reinstated earlier in the week following the departure of coach Ashraf Calvert.
The victory further compounded more misery to the second from bottom Lindelani Ladies with one win and a draw in eight games.
City Lads Ladies made a move two spots up the ladder to 12th place following their 1-0 win against Copperbelt Ladies at the Isaac Wolfson Stadium in Gqeberha.
It is their second victory of the season in nine fixtures after two draws and five losses.
Copperbelt drop one level to seventh on the table.
In De Aar, Royal AM registered their second win in a row when they defeated hosts Richmond 2-1 win at Merino Park.
After a slow start, it seems the KwaZulu Natal side is finding their stride, while the Northern Cape outfit has not won a match in three outings – with two losses and a draw.
HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE RESULTS: WEEK
Saturday, 27 April 2024
First Touch Ladies 0 – 1 University of Pretoria
Baroka Global Village
Polokwane
JVW 3 – 2 TUT Matsatsantsa Ladies
UJ Soccer Stadium
Soweto
University of Johannesburg 2 – 0 University of Fort Hare
UJ Soccer Stadium
Soweto
City Lads Ladies 1 – 0 Copperbelt Ladies
Isaac Wolfson Stadium
Gqeberha
Sundowns Ladies 5 – 1 Thunderbirds Ladies
Lucas Moripe Stadium
Atteridgeville
Richmond United 1 – 2 Royal AM
Merino Park
De Aar
Sunday, 28 April 2024
Lindelani Ladies 1 – 6 TS Galaxy Queens
King Zwelithini Stadium
Durban
Durban Ladies 0 – 5 University of the Western Cape
King Zwelithini Stadium
Durban
By Matlhomola Morake
