The University of Western Cape (UWC) defeated neighbours Vasco da Gama 1-0 to claim bragging rights in the Cape Derby of their Hollywoodbets Super League encounter at Parow Park, Cape Town.
Lindokuhle Gladile scored for the students as they registered their seventh win on the trot.
The victory was even more significant as it placed UWC second on the table and pushed rivals Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) to third spot.
With both sides having played 28 matches each, the battle for second place seems set for an exciting finish.
UWC has a slight advantage as they are on 62 points, three more than the Tshwane outfit.
If neither side drops points, then the Cape side will be the runners up behind champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies in the 2022 Hollywoodbets Super League – a great achievement for coach Thinasonke Mbuli’s charges after they took third place last season.
UWC needs only four points from their remaining two games – they face the relegated Golden Ladies and close off the season when they host Durban Ladies.
On the other hand, TUT have a date with Ma-Indies as well as Golden Ladies to complete their 2022 league campaign.
Lurking not far behind is fourth-placed JVW on 54 points and have an outside chance of finishing in second.
The Blue Diamonds will entertain the University of Johannesburg (UJ), then travel to Thunderbirds Ladies for their penultimate fixture. The last match of the season will see JVW go toe to toe against the Sasol League-bound Tsunami Queens.
Meanwhile in Mpumalanga it was like reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies never left.
After a three week absence from the league due to continental commitments in Morocco, Banyana Ba Style returned to the Hollywoodbets Super League with a bang.
The 2022 CAF Women’s Champions League runners up ran riot against a hapless Coal City Wizards at the Puma Stadium in Witbank.
With most of the players who featured in the tournament in North Africa rested, the Brazilians continued where they left off as they fired seven answered goals for a 7-0 victory in this one-sided affair.
In their last league outing (Saturday, 22 October 2022) Sundowns Ladies walloped First Touch FC 8-0 before jetting off to Morocco.
Prior to that (Wednesday, 19 October 2022), they beat the same Coal City Wizards 9-0 and have now scored 16 goals with no reply from the Mpumalanga side this season.
On Thursday (17 November 2022) the Brazilians led 3-0 at half time, courtesy of a Boitumelo Rabale hattrick (10’ 35’ 45’).
Four goals were scored the other side of the half – Miche Minnies (50’); Hlogi Mashigo (53’), Andisiwe Mgcoyi (77’) and Melinda Kgadiete (83’) all getting in on the act.
Sundowns Ladies are now on 76 points with two games to go.
They have won 25 of their 28 fixtures – lost twice (UWC and TUT), and drew just one once (UWC).
Jerry Tshabalala’s charges have scored an incredible 119 goals this season – with JVW the closest on 71.
Sundowns Ladies have conceded 11 all season while UWC has the second lowest on 13.
UPCOMING HOLLYWOODBETS FIXTURES:
Friday, 18 November 2022
JVW vs UJ 18h00
Saturday, 19 November 2022
Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies vs Coal City Wizards 11h30
Ma-Indies vs TUT 11h30
First Touch FC vs Vasco da Gama 15h00
Richmond United vs Thunderbirds Ladies 15h00
Durban Ladies vs City Lads Ladies 15h30
By Matlhomola Morake
