The fifth edition of the Sasol League National Championships got off to an exciting start and produced a total of 11 goals on the opening day of the event held at the Alabama Stadium in Klerksdorp on Monday, 25 November 2013.
The Banyana Banyana trio of Zamandosi Cele, Silindile Ngubane and Memory Makhanya were clinical in their finish as they took Durban Ladies to the top of Group C with a 4-3 victory over City Lads in the first fixture of the day.
Durban Ladies made their intentions clear from the opening minutes as they took the lead two minutes into the start of the match through Cele. City Lads however, did now allow their Coastal rivals to dictate terms and replied 14 minutes later through Yandiswa Ncocho.
Durban Ladies ended the first half the stronger of the two with a 3-2 lead into the break.
Both teams returned from the break looking strong with City Lads finding an equalizer to make the score 3 – 3. The game looked set for a draw but the Sasol Diski Queen Silindile Ngubane had other ideas on her mind when she used her skill to beat a defender and released a thunderous shot that led to her teams win in the first match of the tournament. Durban Ladies won the match 4 – 3. Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies handed Cape Town Roses a 3-0 defeat in the second fixture of the day.
The ladies from the city of gold made their intentions clear sixty seconds into the clash through a goal from Mozambican Women’s National team captain, Maria Mutola.
Sundowns Ladies went further ahead to take a 2-0 into the break with a goal from Bongiwe Thusi and came back from the break looking to finish off the contest and found their 3rd goal through a second goal from Bongiwe Thusi to ensure a first win in their first appearance at this years’ Sasol League National Championships.
The two matches were followed by the official opening ceremony and the final fixture of the day between host province, Al’s Puk Tawana and MaIndies that ended 1-0 in favour of the ladies from Limpopo.
The CAF African Women Player of the Year 2009,Noko Matlou put MaIndies ahead as early as the 18th minute of the game in a hard fought battle against the hosts.
MaIndies came back from the break looking to increase their goal tally but were held off by the hosts to finish the game 1-0.
Tuesday’s action will see Mamedoli Sundowns back at the Alabama Stadium in a Group B clash against Bloemfontein Celtics in the first fixture of the day that kicks off at 10h00.
The Group A fixture between Ma-Indies and Royal Wizards will follow at 12h30 and Durban Ladies will round up the days fixtures against Empumalanga Ladies at 15h00.
GROUP A
TEAMS
PLAYED
WON
LOST
DREW
GF
GA
GD
POINTS
MaIndies Ladies
1
1
0
0
1
0
1
3
Royal Wizards Ladies
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Cape Town Roses
1
0
1
0
0
1
-1
0
GROUP B
TEAMS
PLAYED
WON
LOST
DREW
GF
GA
GD
POINTS
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies
1
1
0
0
3
0
3
3
Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Cape Town Roses
1
0
1
0
0
3
-3
0
GROUP C
TEAMS
PLAYED
WON
LOST
DREW
GF
GA
GD
POINTS
Durban Ladies
1
1
0
0
4
3
1
3
Empumalanga Ladies
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
City Lads Ladies
1
0
1
0
3
4
-1
0
SASOL LEAGUE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2013 LEADING GOAL SCORERS
PLAYER
TEAM
NUMBER OF GOALS
Silindile Ngubane
Durban Ladies
2
Bongiwe Thusi
Mamelodi Sundowns
2
Nwabisa Kolisi
City Lads Ladies
2
Zamandosi Cele
Durban Ladies
1
Memory Makhanya
Durban Ladies
1
Maria Mutola
Mamelodi Sundowns
1
Noko Matlou
MaIndies Ladies
1
Anelisa Sonjica
City Lads Ladies
1
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