Ma-Indies vs Downs for SASOL Champs Title

Cape Town Roses where made to eat humble pie after going down to Mamelodi Sundowns in a penalty shoot out, in the second Sasol League National Championship semi-final played at Matlosana Stadium on Friday afternoon, but the Cape side will take heart at the way they stretched the champions to the limit.

Sundowns will meet Ma-Indies, who qualified first for the final, to be staged at the Matlosana Stadium on Sunday, 1 December. Kick-off is at 15h00.

Two quick goals by Cape Town Roses’ Nangamso Nokwatsheka and Nocawe Skiti in opening minutes of the game gave the Western Province champions the early advantage.

It was a sterling performance by Roses who dominated proceedings and frustrated the Sundowns Ladies, who tried effortlessly to turn the result in their favour.

But constant performer Maria Mutola soon halved the deficit just before the break, and that goal gave the Gauteng side a ray of hope, as they went onto the break trailing 2-1.

Both sides came back from the break looking more energised, but it was the Mamelodi side that finished stronger and duly equalised through Alochia Thobokela.

Both teams then tried to win the match in regulation time, but both defences held firm. During the penalty shootout, Sundowns proved more composed, and won the match 4-2.

Earlier in the day, early tournament headliner Ma-Indies secured the first finals berth after a hard-fought 2-1 win over favourites Bloemfontein Celtic at Matlosana Stadium, in the North West province.

The two teams went to the break deadlocked at 0-0 despite frantic efforts to open the encounter.

The battle continued into the second half and Ma-Indies were first to get onto the score sheet when they were awarded a penalty 10 minutes into the second half. Banyana Banyana goal-getter Noko Matlou made no mistake from the spot to make it 1-0.

The goal galvanized Celtic Ladies came back into action but were denied the equaliser on several occasions. They duly equalised when they were awarded their own penalty which was converted by Leah Sethunya.

But Ma-Indies had the last laugh though when Maite Magoro caught the Celtic defence napping, to slip through a clean goal which proved decisive.

(With editing by gsport)