In only her second season in Mexico, Banyana Banyana forward Jermaine Seoposenwe is a league champion.
The Capetonian and Rebecca Bernal scored in the second leg to help FC Monterrey to a 2-1 win over Club America in the second leg in Guadalupe, Nuevo León on Tuesday (28 May 2024).
The result left the scores level on 2-2 aggregate as Rayadas trailed 1-0 from the first leg, but the hosts went on to win 4-3 on penalties to be crowned new champions of Clausura 2024 in the Liga MX Femenil.
This was the first gold medal for Seoposenwe, and the third league title for Rayadas in the Mexican Women’s Football league. Thembi Kgatlana’s UANL Tigres won the first half of the league (Apertura 2024) that was before her arrival in Mexico.
Needing to overcome a 1-0 deficit from the first leg, things went from bad to worse for FC Monterrey as the visitors to the BBVA Stadium increased their lead to 2-0 in the 10th minute.
https://x.com/Rayadas/status/1795285202714910729
But Seoposenwe struck with a well-taken goal after being set free with a delightful pass, which she controlled beautifully to strike home from close range in the 25th minute.
With time running out for her side, Rayadas was offered a lifeline in referee’s optional time as they were given a penalty, thanks to VAR, which Rebecca cooly converted to send the home fans into a delirium and the match into penalties.
FC Monterrey prevailed 4-3 in the tense shootout and lifted the trophy – wrapping a wonderful season for the South African.
Seoposenwe scored eight league goals and two in the play-offs.
The forward is not part of the Banyana Banyana squad that will face Senegal in two international friendly matches away on Saturday (1 June) and Tuesday (4 June) – giving her well-deserved break after a hectic season.
On the road to lifting the title, FC Monterrey brushed aside UNAM Pumas in the quarterfinal, defeated Pachuca in the semis before coming from behind to beat Club America.
Seoposenwe was featuring for the second time in the competition – last season she played in the colours of FC Juarez and were knocked out in the first round.
By Matlhomola Morake