KZN champs Ezemvelo FC edged Limpopo’s Ramatlaohle Ladies while the University of Cape Town’s women routed Free State champs Kovsies to respectively claim Sasol National Championships finals berths as their right to set up the stage to settle the deserved 2024 victors, at the Loerie Park Sports Grounds in Knysna on Friday, 18 October, 2024.
The first semi-final in the Sasol League National Championship saw Ramatlaohle Ladies face Ezemvelo WFC, and both teams started the match with great intent as they looked to score the opening goal.
The pace of the game was rather fast with both teams on attack, and it was women’s football rising star Nobuhle Mthembu who had a good chance in the 13th minute from a free kick, but it went just wide of goal. The game continued at its frenetic pace but at 20 minutes neither team had managed to find the back of the net.
Amanda Mkhize came close to opening the scoring for Ezemvelo but Ramatlaohle goalkeeper Ester Seefane came out with a good save. Things started falling in place for the KwaZulu-Natal side as they started to settle, but both teams were still searched for that all-important goal at the 30-minute mark.
Selina Schalkwyk’s free kick couldn’t find any Ramatlaohle players in the box and there was another opportunity missed, summing up the first half was for both teams going into halftime with no goals scored.
Ezemvelo came out with intent when the match resumed with Slindile Ngubane going straight for goal, but her shot was gathered by keeper Seefane as the half got underway.
The KwaZulu-Natal side were given a free kick in a prime position, but Lumka Ntombeni’s effort went just over the bar. Ramatlaohle Ladies’ Dimakatso Sehlabo looked to be scoring the first goal of the game when she was one-on-one with Seefane, but she put the ball wide.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 58th minute, when a fantastic cross fell to Amanda Mkhize feet and she made no mistake in scoring. Ezemvelo went on to create more opportunities but were not able to add to their lead.
Ramatlaohle Ladies, meanwhile were given a late free-kick late in the game, it was directed into the box but into the arms of Zintle Ndwalane. The Limpopo team kept pushing for a goal but it was not meant to be as Ezemvelo booked their place in the final after a strong performance in their 1-0 win.
The second semi-final was dubbed the ‘University Derby’ as UCT was up against the University of the Free State’s Kovsies, and the first chance of the game fell to UCT as captain Robyn Coetzee crossed the ball to Earon Isaacs, only for her shot to be gathered by Kovsies keeper, Karabo Mohlabane.
A few minutes later the team from Cape Town broke through for their goal, an easy finish for Michaela Liebenberg to see her team take a much-deserved lead. Their opponents were finding it very hard to find the rhythm, and were often disposed of the ball or were guilty of giving it away.
Kovsies had a free kick outside the box, only for the strong effort from Aphiwe Shamase to be punched away by UCT goalie Kay-Dee Windvogel for a corner. Liebenberg was brought down in the box, and Janicka Andrews converted the penalty to see them double their lead.
Then Tara Haoust brought the house down when she scored a stunning goal with her right foot, leaving Mohlabane no chance of saving the attempt for UCT to take a 3-0 lead into halftime.
Kovsies had more of the ball when the match resumed but just couldn’t penetrate their opponent’s defence and, meanwhile, UCT were taking every chance they got as they searched for a fourth goal.
Despite the energy, the second half didn’t see as much action with both teams trying to create opportunities in front of goal. Kovsies captain Siyamthanda Mzimba gave a free kick just outside the box which Liebenberg played a dummy, but that didn’t work out as the ball sailed wide of goal.
UCT finally got their fourth goal as Alvina Enoh lobbed the keeper and the ball fell into the back of the net. The win sees them join Ezemvelo in the final, with both teams also qualifying for the 2025 Hollywoodbets Super League season in news breaking on Friday.
UCT will now take on Ezemvelo in the final who they met in the group stages. The two teams played to a draw in that encounter.
Fixtures and Results of the 2024 Sasol National Championship
Tuesday, 15 October
09:00 – Sophakhama Ladies 0-2 Ezemvelo WFC
12:30 – Kovsies 3-2 North West University
15:00 – Ramatlaohle Ladies 2-2 Super Strikers
Wednesday, 16 October
09:00 – North West University 2-3 Royal Wizards
12:30 – Super Strikers 1-0 FC Raycon Ladies
15:00 – Ezemvelo WFC 1-1 UCT
Thursday, 17 October
09:00 – FC Raycon Ladies 1-3 Ramatlaohle Ladies
12:30 – UCT 6-0 Sophakhama
15:00 – Royal Wizards 0-3 Kovsies
Semi-Finals – Friday, 18 October
11:00 – Ramatlaohle Ladies 0-1 Ezemvelo WFC
15:00 – UCT 4-0 Kovsies
Sunday, 20 October
11:30: FINAL – UCT v Ezemvelo WFC
Main Photo Caption: Ezemvelo WFC edged Ramatlaohle Ladies while UCT routed Kovsies to respectively claim Sasol National Championships finals berths as their right to set up the stage to decide the 2024 champions at the Loerie Park Sports Grounds in Knysna on Friday, 18 October, 2024. Photos: Sasol in Sport
Photo 2 Caption: KZN champs Ezemvelo WFC edged Limpopo’s Ramatlaohle Ladies 1-nil, breaking the deadlock in the 58th minute for the semi decider. Photos: Sasol in Sport
Photo 3 Caption: WP champs UCT routed the Free State’s Kovsies in the ‘University Derby’ to qualify for their chance at the 2024 Sasol National Champs title.Photos: Sasol in Sport
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