Reigning Hollywoodbets Super League champions, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, continued in their free-scoring mode on Saturday (14 October 2023) at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville as they netted their 18th goal in three games (vs City Lads Ladies, vs Durban Ladies, and now JVW).
Playing their third fixture in seven days, the Brazilians showed no signs of slowing down, with the Blue Diamonds the latest victims in a game that was expected to be a stiff contest for the home side but were not truly tested.
Sundowns Ladies 6 – 1 JVW
This was JVW’s first defeat in 15 outings, and since gaining promotion to the elite women’s league, their search for the elusive victory over Sundown Ladies continues.
In six matches, they have managed only one draw, losing the other five:
2023: (3-2, 6-1); 2022: (4-2, 2-0); 2021: (2-2, 2-1)
Lesotho international Boitumelo Rabale (22’, 51’) seems to have it in for JVW as she scored a brace earlier this season, and continued where she left off with two goals in the 6-1 win, on a day when the trophy for the 2023 season winners was paraded at the venue.
Karabo Makhurubetshi (34’), Lehlogonolo Mashigo (60’), Lebohang Ramalepe (82’) and Miche Minnies 89’) completed the rout, while Janine van Wyk (81’) got the consolation goal for the visitors.
The result sees the second-placed Banyana Ba Style reduce the gap to three points behind log leaders, the University of the Western Cape (UWC), who were not in action this weekend.
Sundowns Ladies are now on 60 points, with UWC on 63 – both have played 23 games each – which means there is no room for error in the remaining seven fixtures. The two sides meet on Sunday, 22 October in Cape Town in a possible league decider.
Prior to that the Brazilians will host Coal City Wizards in a midweek clash (18 October) at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.
Banyana ba Style lead the league’s scorers’ charts with 72 goals. UWC is second on 58.
City Lads Ladies 2 – 0 Ma-Indies Ladies
It’s curtains for Ma-Indies Ladies in the Hollywoodbets Super League after they were relegated following a 2-0 loss to City Lads Ladies at the Isaac Wolfson Stadium in Gqeberha with three games remaining.
The Limpopo side came into this match on eight points and needing a win, but also hope that Thunderbirds, who were on 17 points do not get maximum points – instead bottom of the table Ma-Indies lost and 14th placed Thunderbirds won to reach the 20-point mark, that confirmed relegation for Lebohang Ramalepe’ former team.
Ma-Indies has thus far suffered 23 defeats in 27 matches, drawn two and won the other two.
They remain on eight points and can only get to 17.
With the Limpopo side’s relegation confirmed, the attention now turns to the other four sides who are hovering around the relegation zone: Copperbelt Ladies, City Lads, Thunderbirds and Coal City Wizards, who are on 21, 21, 20 and 13 points respectively.
Ma-Indies follow in the footsteps of Golden Ladies (Northwest) and Tsunami Queens (Free State) – the first two teams to drop down from the Hollywoodbets Super League last season.
Currently only two teams from Limpopo remain in the Hollywoodbets Super League – First Touch and newcomers Copperbelt Ladies.
Royal AM 0 – 0 Durban Ladies
At the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg, the KwaZulu Natal Derby failed to produce a winner after Royal AM and neighbours Durban Ladies played to a goalless draw.
This was Royal AM’s second draw in succession after holding the reigning champions to a 1-all stalemate last weekend, while Durban Ladies will be happy with a point after the 6-0 drubbing at the hands of the Brazilians.
Following the result, Royal AM has dropped one spot down to fifth with 48 points. Durban Ladies is ninth with 35 points.
Richmond United 3 – 3 First Touch Academy
The Merino Park in De Aar in the Northern Cape witnessed a six-goal thriller when Richmond United and First Touch Academy locked horns.
After 90 minutes, both sides could not be separated, with the match ending in a 3-all draw.
Richmond is seventh and First Touch 10th on the table.
Thunderbirds Ladies 3 – 1 Copperbelt Ladies: 15h00
Thunderbirds Ladies are fighting with everything they have to stay in the Hollywoodbets Super League.
They collected maximum points in their 3-1 win over newcomers Copperbelt Ladies at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in East London – and got a slight reprieve from relegation, but they are not out of the woods yet.
The Eastern Cape side remains 14th on the log standings with 20 points.
Copperbelt is also not out of danger yet – they are 13th on the table with 21 points – and the latest loss has not helped matters.
UJ Ladies 0 – 2 TS Galaxy Queens
TS Galaxy Queens continued where they left off as they notched up their second win in a row – beating the University of Johannesburg (UJ Ladies) 2 – 0. The Students haven’t won a match in their last four outings.
With the victory at the UJ Stadium in Soweto, The Rockets have climbed one place up to fourth and the students are eighth.
HOLLYWOODBETS SUPER LEAGUE RESULTS:
Saturday, 14 October 2023
Sundowns Ladies 6 – 1 JVW
Lucas Moripe Stadium
Pretoria
City Lads Ladies 2 – 0 Ma-Indies Ladies
Isaac Wolfson Stadium
Gqeberha
Richmond United 3 – 3 First Touch Academy
Merino Park
De Aar
Royal AM 0 – 0 Durban Ladies
Harry Gwala Stadium
Pietermaritzburg
Thunderbirds Ladies 3 – 1 Copperbelt Ladies
Sisa Dukashe Stadium
East London
UJ Ladies 0 – 2 TS Galaxy Queens
UJ Stadium
Soweto
By Matlhomola Morake
