The Central University of Technology (CUT) were looking to follow in their neighbours footsteps by also winning on their return to Varsity Football, however the University of Johannesburg (UJ) put paid to that with a 1-0 victory at the CUT Stadium on July 25.
Both teams took their time to settle into their gears, but it was UJ who seemed to get into their stride quicker. Constant trouble came in the form of Tristan Nikitaridis, who gave Thabo Samuel some early practice in shot-stopping.
On the other end, Khauhelo Ramotsoenyane gave the home crowd something to cheer about with a few shots from outside the box.
However, in a half where the defences took centre stage, the home team were the first to have their defence penetrated. Following a temporary lapse in concentration, the home side’s keeper found himself wanting and gifted Keegan Faver an opportunity to put his side ahead. Faver duly obliged, chipped Samuel, and celebrated in ecstatic fashion.
Not ones to lie down in misery, CUT came out with a vengeful attitude and almost equalised immediately after the beginning of the second stanza.
One-time UJ midfielder and a CUT prodigal son, Keitumetse Mabathoana shot from range, but the captain’s effort sailed past the upright.
Faver, meanwhile, continued his relationship with Samuel, but CUT’s number one was equal to the task, palming the blazing shot at his near post.
CUT continued to press for a late equaliser, but the visitors kept their defence compact. With only a handful of minutes added on, CUT searched for an equaliser, but Alan Mabuza constantly thwarted those efforts.
UJ went home with the spoils as they look to finally have a triumphant season.
The other results are:
North West University (NWU) Mafikeng made their home ground advantage count in their season-opener against University of Kwa-Zulu Natal (UKZN) on Thursday, sending the visitors back to the coast with a 2-1 defeat.
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), did what was needed to beat their Pretoria rivals, the University of Pretoria 1-0 at the Tuks Stadium in Round 1’s Varsity Football meeting on Thursday evening.
University of Freestate (UFS) were looking to make an immediate impact on their return to Varsity Football and did just that by beating the University of Western Cape (UWC) 3-2 at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein.
Round two of the Varsity Football continues on August 1, UJ will play at home, at the UJ Soweto campus. Match will start at 6.15pm.
