Varsity Football Report: NWU-Pukke 1-0 Wits University 03 August 2015
NWU-Pukke moved to the top of the Varsity Football standings after they beat Wits University 1-0 in Potchefstroom on Monday. It was the Potch team's second win in a row and Wits' first defeat in the tournament. UWC can overtake NWU-Pukke at the top of the log if they beat WSU on Thursday Wits started the brighter of the two teams and they caused some concern in the NWU-Pukke final third with their attacking prowess. However, soon after it was the home team who then started to settle with last week's man of the match Kagiso Pitso putting his team on the front foot with some good dribbling in the Wits' half. Not long after it was his younger brother, Gontse, who had his team's first real chance at goal with his shot going over the crossbar. Wits' Mahle Mtabane then had a great chance from a free kick, but his shot did not trouble the NWU-Pukke goalkeeper. Kagiso Pitso picked up a yellow card for his foul that led to the free kick. However, it was the home team who would open the scoring near the half hour mark when Katlego Sephakwe found the back of the net with a great strike after some great attacking play. The goal seemed to give the home team a burst of confidence as they nearly added a second with just ten minutes left in the first half when another shot went wide. Wits would have the final say in the half, but same great play by again by goalkeeper Mojalefa Magabe stopped them from finding the equaliser. It was a rather subdued start to the second half with both teams not making much chances in the opening ten minutes. The away team was getting frustrated though with one of their players being booked for a rough challenge. The Joburg team gradually started to gain momentum in the half as they started to dominate possession. It was the home side however, who had the first real chance of the half when, after a great dribble, Gontse Pitso fired a shot passed the upright. With game entering the final 15 minutes, Wits head coach Karabo Mogudi then threw on super sub Graeme Dor to try and find a goal - just as he did in his team's win against NMMU last week. With Wits pushing players up front to get that elusive goal, it left them vulnerability at the back with Pukke nearly putting the game to bed after a great counter. Tensions rose at the end of the game where NWU-Pukke's Patrick Lebitsa and Wits' Mtabane both got yellow carded for some indifferent play. Time eventually ran out for Wits with the Potch team bagging another three points. Samsung Super Striker: Katlego Sephakwe FNB Man of the Match: Katlego Sephakwe Scorers: For NWU-Pukke: Katlego Sephakwe For Wits: None Yellow cards: For NWU-Pukke: Kagiso Pitso, Patrick Lebitsa For Wits: TBC, Aleksandar Kocic, Mahle Mtabane Teams: NWU-Pukke: 32 Mojalefa Magabe, 16 Tumelo Mosimane, 20 Tebogo Monyebodi, 23 Kutloano Nkwe, 5 Bonginkosi Mnyamane, 14 Smangaliso Radebe, 12 Katlego Sephakwe, 8 Gontse Pitso, 7 Kagiso Pitso, 6 Dumisani Nhlapo, 11 Patrick Lebitsa. Substitutes: 1 Johannes le Grange, 13 Mosa Matshego, 21 Thabo Mokhele, 17 Evan Stegen, 18 Hlalefo Pallo, 4 March Skosana, 10 Thabang Matlhoko. Wits: 1 Brylon Petersen, 18 Samkelo Thutshini, 8 Hope Munyai, 5 Kaizer Maphanga, 12 Phuthi Leboho, 9 Gift Baloyi, 15 Muzimkhulu Nhlengethwa, 22 Vuyo Qwesha, 7 Wonderboy Frank, 27 Hlohonolofatso Mahate, 10 Mahle Mtabane. Replacements: 25 Zawadi Dlamini, 14 Graeme Dor, 4 Aleksandar Kocic, 11 Neo Makua, 3 Saluleko Mathonsi, 6 Innocent Magasela, 23 Crouch Lyndon.
