The Tshwane University of Technology’s male team made light work of their trip to Johannesburg with a staggering 2-1 win over an in-form Wits University side in their dramatic Varsity Football final at Wits on Thursday evening.
The two sides came into the match under immense pressure given their tactical performances throughout the competition. Wits surprised everyone when they held down a very formidable University of Johannesburg side in their Jozi semi-final derby, winning on penalties. While TUT thrashed Tuks in the Tshwane semi-final derby 2-1, a match that many thought Tuks would win.
Both teams opened the match on high note, declaring war with attacks from the flanks, but failed in front of goal. In just 25 minutes into the match the TUT defence was caught sleeping on duty, by the hosts Tshireletso Motsogi who was first to open the scoresheet 25 minutes into the match.
The Tshwane-based Red Machine tried to redeem themselves but the hosts were just so disciplined and organised at the back. The teams went into half time with the hosts leading 1-0.
The second half started with TUT pushing middle fielder Godfrey Mahlale in front to put pressure on the Wits defence, that’s when TUT started to create more promising opportunities. The visitors fell for coach Bushy Moloi’s trap by leaving Godfrey unmarked during a set piece and he didn’t think twice and slotted it passed goalkeeper Matthew Carelse, and brought TUT’s hopes back by levelling the scores to 1-1 at exactly 57 minutes into the match.
At just 65 minutes into the match wits applied pressure from the sides using the pace of winger Baliwe Moyakhe on the Tshwane Giants but failed in front of goal. TUT retaliated and came knocking through the middle of the park forcing the hosts to commit corners.
When everyone thought the penalties will decide this match, it was the former champions’ winger Melusi Vilakazi who rose to the challenge to score a well curled cross from full back Rorisang Rapelang to give the visitors a lead for the first time in this match with exactly one minute left before referee’s stoppage time.
By Mokete Radebe
