United flop in Sasol group stage
THE NORTHERN Cape’s Richmond United yesterday failed to make it into the knockout stage of the Sasol Women’s League national play-offs, which is taking place at the Galeshewe Stadium, after Limpopo’s First Touch Academy walloped them 6-3.
This was the last game in the group phase, and Safa president Danny Jordaan and Banyana Banyana player Jermaine Seoposengwe were yesterday sitting in the VIP stand watching the high-scoring action.
United at least finally found their scoring boots yesterday and put three goals past the Limpopo side. In their opening game against Durban Ladies on Tuesday, United conceded seven goals and failed to put anything into the net.
In yesterday’s game United were first to concede a goal. First Touch striker Tlaki Matlakaneng got a pass inside the 18-yard area and deftly side-booted the ball into the back of the net to get her side a 1-0 lead.
United looked like they might pull one back almost immediately as midfielder Tsholofelo Motlhale collected at centre. Motlhale barreled forward and passed to her frontline companion who disappointingly lost her footing and lost the ball as well.
Moments later, United skipper Noxolo Nongxasa made up for the lost chance as she latched on to a hospital back-pass to First Touch goalie Mosima Selepe and scored the equaliser.
The weather was now more agreeable after a short shower had come down just after midday and made this last game of three matches on the day a pleasant experience for the fans.
On the pitch, however, the 1-1 scoreline was short-lived.
First Touch midfielder Maureen Morudi calmly controlled inside the United 18-yard area and slotted a low shot into the goal (2-1).
Nongxasa proved to be something of a thorn in First Touch’s side. She broke through their defence but was then blown for off-side by the assistant referee – much to the dismay of the spectators who voiced their disagreement loudly.
United’s Nobengazi Makopo was evidently struggling with an injury and battled to remain upright in the tackles. This did not bother First Touch’s Taki Matlapeng who got onto the end of a centre-field pass and blasted home her brace to take a 3-1 lead.
United survived a few more goal line scares from the Limpopo side, who should have got on the scoreboard at least three more times.
Going for the spectacular, Matlakaneng then mistimed a terrific bicycle kick in the United goal box and sent the ball into oblivion.
It was around this time that United skipper Nobengazi limped off the field assisted by medics.
First Touch kept pushing for their fourth and it paid off when Reneilwe Radingwana took a shot from outside the United box and buried the ball deep in the lower left corner (4-1).
Radingwana’s example was shortly followed teammate Sebata Molatelo who did a shimmy in the United goal area and sent a shot into the United net and they were 5-1 up.
United’s Nobengazi Makopo pulled one back for her team as she netted their second goal in the tournament (5-2). But First Touch got a sixth goal via a penalty by Radingwana for a 6-2 scoreline.
Despite being four goals down, United were far from demotivated and Tsholofelo Motlhale got another goal back by lobbing the ball over First Touch goalie Mosima Selepe (6-3).
Yet in the end, despite scoring three goals in their last game, United now face the prospect of playing for one of three bottom positions (9, 8 or 7) in one of today’s semi-final curtain-raisers.