The semi-finals for the 2023 Sasol League National Champs have been confirmed, and four teams are just one match away from gaining promotion to the Hollywoodbets Super League for the 2024 season.
On Thursday, 19 October 2023, Lindelani Ladies of KwaZulu Natal completed the line-up, joining Croesus FC (Gauteng), Fort Hare University (Eastern Cape) and Ramatlaohle Ladies (Limpopo) who had booked their tickets a day earlier.
Lindelani Ladies had a scare in the final match of the day with Royal Wizards taking the lead, but the KwaZulu Natal outfit bounced back and won 5-1, ensuring their spot in the last four.
The drama started with the first match of the day when Sasol Juventus dumped out North West’s Royal Queens 3-2 – and at the time, the Mpumalanga side was in the semi-finals.
But all that changed in the second fixture of the day with UCT in the driving seat after a demolition job over hosts Ixias in a 3-0 win. When the third game started, University of Cape Town (UCT) had one foot in the semis.
Lindelani Ladies changed the script completely with their victory and were confirmed the second best placed team with three points – level with UCT and Sasol Juventus – but with a better goal difference.
The injury-plague Lindelani will not have time to celebrate their progression as they are back on the field on Friday morning (20 October) at 11h00 to take on Ramatlaohle for a place in the final, while Croesus will face Fort Hare University at 15h00.
All the matches are taking place at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein.
Entry is free.
The matches will be broadcast on SABC Sport.
OVERALL RESULTS FROM DAY 1:
| GROUP | |||
| DAY ONE – TUES, 17 October 23 | |||
| UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN (WC) | 1 – 3 | RAMATLAOHLE LADIES (LIM) | C |
| ROYAL WIZARDS (NC) | 2 – 4 | FORT HARE UNIVERSITY (EC) | B |
| SASOL JUVENTUS (MP) | 1 – 5 | CROESUS (GP) | A |
| DAY TWO – WED, 18 October 23 | |||
| FORT HARE UNIVERSITY (EC) | 1 – 0 | LINDELANI LADIES (KZN) | B |
| CROESUS (GP) | 3 – 1 | ROYAL QUEENS (NW) | A |
| RAMATLAOHLE LADIES (LP) | 1 – 1 | IXIAS FC (FS) | C |
| DAY THREE – THURS, 19 October 23 | |||
| ROYAL QUEENS (NW) | 2 – 3 | SASOL JUVENTUS (MP) | A |
| IXIAS FC (FS) | 0 – 3 | UCT | C |
| LINDELANI LADIES (KZN) | 5 – 1 | ROYAL WIZARDS | B |
SEMI-FINAL DAY 3 FIXTURES: Friday, 20 October 2023
| TIME | |||
| RAMATLAOHLE LADIES | vs | LINDELANI LADIES | 11H00 |
| CROESUS FC | vs | FORT HARE UNIVERSITY | 15H00 |
By Matlhomola Morake
