The four Varsity Football semi-finalists have been confirmed after a dramatic final round, with Wits and TUT joining UJ and UP-Tuks in the last four.
Wits beat DUT 2-1 in Durban to finish top of the log, while UP-Tuks ended UJ’s unbeaten run with a 1-0 win in the Gauteng derby.
Defending champions UFS won 2-1 against UWC but missed out on goal difference, as did UWC themselves, despite TUT scoring four in their win over UL to squeeze into the semi-finals.
Wits face TUT and UJ take on UP-Tuks in the semi-finals on Friday 25 September.
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DUT 1-2 Wits
Wits secured top spot on the log with a 2-1 win at DUT. Moila Matswiki opened the scoring inside five minutes after DUT goalkeeper Sekwanele Mtolo spilled a shot from outside the box, before Thato Putswane doubled the lead just after the half-hour mark, finishing off a cross from Tebogo Masemola.
DUT pulled one back through a Sandiso Xaba penalty in the 70th minute, won after Wits goalkeeper Lwando Mvinjana brought down Bonga Mthembu, but Wits held on to secure a home semi-final and, potentially, a home final.
UP-Tuks 1-0 UJ
UP-Tuks ended UJ’s unbeaten run and booked their own semi-final spot with a narrow win in the Gauteng derby.
Ntokozo Madela’s 17th-minute goal proved decisive, with UJ unable to find a way past a resilient UP-Tuks side despite several late chances, including two efforts from substitute Tebogo Motshelanoka that were either saved or cleared off the line.
UL 1-4 TUT
TUT’s four-goal win brought an end to UL’s first Varsity Football campaign in eight years. Likho James opened the scoring inside a minute, before Akani Rathokoa struck twice either side of the half-hour mark to put TUT firmly in control.
Kearabilwe Mphahlele added a fourth from a free-kick early in the second half, before Maano Phaswana gave UL a deserved consolation with a powerful header in the 71st minute.
UL finish their return season with one draw and six defeats from seven matches, but can be proud of a campaign built on resilience and fight.
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UFS 2-1 UWC
Defending champions UFS beat UWC in Bloemfontein but still missed out on the semi-finals on goal difference, bringing their title defence to an end.
Sachile Nyathi’s spectacular bicycle kick put UFS ahead just before half-time, only for Zamian Plaatjies to level for UWC moments later.
Ivence Mbhele restored UFS’s lead early in the second half, and they held on for the win, but it wasn’t enough to secure a top-four finish for either side.
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Photo: Asem Engage
