Thembi Kgatlana increased her goal tally to six in Mexico after scoring a brace as Tigres UANL defeated Necaxa 3-1 on Match Day 16 of the Liga MX Femenil on Tuesday, 30 April 2024.
The forward was on target in the 16th minute as she started and finished off a swift move to help her team take the lead.
Jana Gutierrez doubled the advantage eight minutes later before the Banyana Banyana forward grabbed her brace in the second half (73’) – after pouncing on a defensive error to make it 3-0 and take the game away from the opponents.
Having started the match, the Randfontein-born Kgatlana departed the scene in the 83rd minute but had done enough to ensure the defending champions retain their top spot on the log standings.
After 16 rounds of fixtures, Tigres UANL has managed 14 wins, with one draw and a loss. They are on 43 points – two ahead of second-placed Pachuca Femenil, who they face away in the final match of the regular season on Sunday, 5 May.
Elsewhere Jermaine Seoposenwe could not help FC Monterrey defeat her former employers, FC Juarez as they lost 1-0, also on Match Day 16.
To rub salt into the wound, the Capetonian did not finish the match as she was red-carded in the 67th minute and will miss the final match of the season against Guadalajara Chivas Femenil on Sunday.
Seoposenwe, who was in the starting line-up for Monterrey FC, ends the campaign on eight goals, with her side currently third on the table on 38 points after 12 wins, two draws and the same number of defeats.
On Saturday, 29 April, Hilda Magaia and Sinoxolo Cesane started for Mazatlán FC but ended on the wrong side of the results as they suffered a heavy defeat, going down 7-2 to UNAM Pumas, who have almost confirmed their top eight spot.
With just four wins, a draw and 11 losses in 16 outings, Mazatlán FC have accumulated only 13 points, leaving them 14th on the table.
Their last match of the regular season is also on Sunday away to bottom of the table Santos Laguna.
By Matlhomola Morake
