Bluebirds could have inflicted the first defeat on the enterprising Tshwane University of Technology (Tut) women’s football team if striker Paulette Coglin’s two attempts were not cleared off the line.
The Alex outfit was beaten 2-1 in the Sasol Women’s Football League match played at the Tut campus grounds on 17 May. The Tshwane side has not been beaten in all its seven games played so far, and had Coglin scored her hattrick, she would have been the first striker to inflict defeat on this side.
The teams went into the half-time break with the Tshwane ladies leading 1-0, but Coglin cancelled that lead with an equalising goal early in the second half. The teams remained level at 1-1 for most of the second half.
Conglin came close to scoring twice but was unlucky when both her attempts were cleared off the line.
The winning goal on the Tshwane side came five minutes before full time, and that was the undoing of The Birds, who were hoping for a draw away from home.
Talented Banyana Banyana striker Zingawe Phakathi showed her commitment when she insisted on playing the entire game despite not feeling well. She gave her best to the team with brilliant ball handling and occasional bursts through the opposition defenders.
Bluebirds coach Malvin Khumalo said, “I am disappointed that we lost the game as we could have won it, or even settled for a draw had they not found the winning goal just before the final whistle.
“I am happy with the performance of the girls though, especially going towards our weekend game against defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies. The fact that we could have either won the game or drawn it, will give my players the much-needed confidence when they face Sundowns on 25 May.
“We may have lost the game but we put up a good fight and we could have easily inflicted the first defeat on Tut.”
