The gusty wind in Cape Town helped both teams score goals as UWC and UL played to a 1-1 draw at UWC Stadium on Monday night.
The hosts started the game with vigour, pushing for an early goal with striker Curtley Beukes coming close to beating UL goalkeeper Jonathan Gole.
The visitors’ eventually defence cracked under relentless attacking in the eighth minute when Beukes headed in from a Tapelo Sixishe corner to make the score 1-0 to UWC.
UWC kept piling on the pressure after taking the lead and Sixishe came close to scoring after unleashing a low drive at goal.
Things started heating up toward the end of the first half with Thulani Mkosi handed a yellow card for a bad tackle.
The visitors then failed to equalise through Clyde Kgatla, who should have done better with only goalkeeper Reon October to beat.
UWC held on to their lead as their opponents found their stride just before half-time. Going into the break, the hosts led 1-0.
The second half kicked off with UL picking up where they left off, attacking the UWC goal.
Goalkeeper Reon October was in top form though, keeping his side in the game with four saves in succession and some good distribution to the home side’s attacking players.
Midfielder Austin Dube came close to beating October, but his effort wasn’t good enough as the visitors kept pushing forward to find their equaliser.
Their hard work paid off as they found the equaliser through striker Theo Phophi, who made use of the howling wind to eventually get the better of October and bring the visitors back in the game.
Phophi found the back of the net from a corner after the ball came off the crossbar, falling onto the striker’s head. He made no mistake to bring his team back into the game.
Limpopo kept using the wind to their advantage in the second half but failed to get the ball passed October, who ensured the home team held on to secure a draw as the referee blew the whistle for full-time.
Final score: UWC 1-1 UL
Man Of The Match: Blondy Mohale
Super Striker: Curtley Beukes
UWC Starting XI: 1 Reon October, 8 Nxumalo Mxolisi, 3 Robin van Rensburg, 4 Dane Samaai, 23 Jason Brown, 6 Akhon Bonga, 7 Thulani Mkosi, 19 Chad Smith, 10 Tapelo Sixishe, 15 Wade Crowie, 14 Ayanda Nkunkwana,
Substitutes: 12 Phiwokuhle Mpalala, 9 Curtley Beukes, 16 Siphosethu Pitoyi, 20 Kuhle Mpahlwa, 24 David Morgan, 21 Reza Zain Dramat, 18 Mubeen Mookrey
UL Starting XI: 1 Jonathan Gole, 2 Ivan Tleane, 6 Edgar Mafunisa, 24 Austin Dube, 22 Kgotlelelo Kgoete, 21 Samuel Mathabathe, 7 Clyde Kgatla, 8 Blondy Mohale, 18 Johannes Manamela, 19 Cyril Ndhlovu, 9 Theo Phophi,
Substitutes: 4 Themba Chauke, 17 Nelson Ndhima, 16 Harold Ndhlovu, 10 Vuledzani Chikhala, 11 Mahlatse Mogale, 5 Kganyago Matsobane, 12 Junior Mokgotho
