Onto the finals for Wits

Spectacular performance from Wits goalkeeper Matthew Carelse gets Wits to its first Varsity Football final.

This local derby and rivalry was deemed to be one of the memory books as Wits University and the University of Johannesburg (UJ) faced-off in the semi-final of the Varsity Football Competition.

A five-star performance from Wits’ goalkeeper kept Wits in the game and clinched them a 4–3 win via penalties.

This victory put Wits through to the 2018 final of the Varsity Football Competition and it will face the winners of the Pretoria Derby Tshwane University of Technology (Tut).

The first match between Wits and UJ on 9 August ended in a 2–1 victory for UJ but Wits took crucial lessons from that loss. UJ attacked all night long, with multiple efforts on goal but failed to put one goal past Matthew Carelse.

UJ thought it would take the lead in the second half when UJ was awarded a penalty.

UJ’s Karl Clements stepped up to the spot and shot left but the Wits goalkeeper, Carelse, saved the ball with an outstretched glove.

The match couldn’t be settled within 90 minutes thus forcing the game to go to penalties. A shootout that Wits managed to win 4–3.

Carelse’s performance had him named the FNB Player of the Match and was awarded the Samsung Moment of Brilliance and Debonairs Real Deal Save.

Wits get to play the final in their backyard, where they had not lost any matches this season.

The final between Wits and Tut will be played on 27 September and will be Wits’ first appearance in the finals.

The match will be broadcast on television and supporters of both teams will be in attendance to see who will be crowned the champions of university football.