Thursday heralds the final day of Sasol National Championship group-stage action, and goal difference is likely to play a strong hand in deciding which teams qualify for the Sasol National Championship semi-finals on Friday, after play concluded at the Loerie Park Sports Grounds in Knysna in the Western Cape, on Wednesday, 16 October, 2024.
Ezemvelo FC and Super Strikers Ladies are the best-placed of those who have completed their two ties to date, with a win and a draw each to share the top of the log on points after Wednesday’s results, but no team has won both group stage matches thus far.
That log-topping performance is only possible for two teams still in the running, and as fate would have it, Royal Wizards face Kovsies in Thursday’s final encounter, and with both teams having one win under the belt, the top spot will be decided after today’s results are all counted.
In Wednesday’s first match, NWU played their second game in as many days to get Day 2 underway, only to fall to their second defeat with a 3-2 loss, this time to the Royal Wizards Ladies.
Photo: Sasol in Sport
The Northern Cape champions earned themselves an early lead when Nosipho Khomari was able to get past her opponents to find the back of the net in the 8th minute.
The second-half saw poor defending by NWU, resulting in a fumble by their goalkeeper which saw the ball roll into the net, for the Wizards to double their lead. As action continued, Khomari on the attack again was clear on goal only to be brought down in the box, but the resulting penalty shot was saved.
The Wizards broke through few minutes later for their third goal to nil, and the match looked done and dusted only for a late charge by NWU, who announced other plans with two very late goals, but it was too little, too late, for the university team.
The second match of the day saw Super Strikers Ladies up against FC Raycon Ladies. Super Strikers knew nothing less than a win was good enough after playing to a 2-all draw against Ramatlaohle in their opening match.
Their final group-stage match looked destined for a repeat draw with neither team able to find the game in regulation time, but some late heroics from Gift Shabangu saw her team steal the victory at the death, the Super Strikers Ladies player lobbing the Raycon keeper to get the precious goal they needed and seal a famous 1-0 win for a share of the overnight log lead.
Game six turned out to be one of the more thrilling encounters so far as Ezemvelo Ladies and UCT went toe-to-toe in this fixture. It was the KwaZulu-Natal team that went ahead first via goal from Lumka Ntombela, with both teams on full attack.
Both sides created chances but it was UCT Ladies who found the equaliser in the second half through Lisakhanya Mayisela. The two teams pressed for the winner, but it didn’t materialise and the match ended 1-all.
Thursday sees the final day of group matches where FC Raycon Ladies will take on Ramatlaohle Ladies, UCT face Sophakhama while Royal Wizards and Kovsies will do battle at the Loerie Park Sports Grounds.
Fixtures and Results of the 2024 Sasol National Championship
Tuesday, 15 October
09:00 – Sophakhama Ladies 0-2 Ezemvelo
12:30 – Kovsies 3-2 North West University
15:00 – Ramatlaohle Ladies 2-2 Super Strikers
Wednesday, 16 October
9:00 – North West University 2-3 Royal Wizards
12:30 – Super Strikers 1-0 FC Raycon Ladies
15:00 – Ezemvelo 1-1 UCT
Thursday, 17 October
9:00 – FC Raycon Ladies vs Ramatlaohle Ladies
12:30 – UCT vs Sophakhama
15:00 – Royal Wizards vs Kovsies
Friday, 18 October
Semi-Finals
Sunday, 20 October
Final
Main Photo Caption: Ezemvelo FC (pictured) and Super Strikers Ladies are the best-placed of those who have completed their two 2024 Sasol National Championship ties, to share the top of the log on points in Knysna on Wednesday, 15 October 2024. Photos: Sasol in Sport
Photo 2 Caption: Super Strikers matched Ezemvelo to lead the log with their win over Raycon Ladies. Photos: Sasol in Sport. Photos: Sasol in Sport
Photo 3 Caption: Royal Wizards FC gave themselves the best shot at a semi-final with a nervous 3-2 win over NWU ahead of their final match on Thursday. Photos: Sasol in Sport
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