Vasco Da Gama were crowned the 2021 Sasol League national championship champions after defeating City Lads 4-3 in the tournament’s finale at the King Zwelithini stadium on Sunday. Lethabo Kganyago reports.
Goals came from Chantay Norris and Miche Minnies in the opening 10 minutes, while Roxanne Barker scored in injury time of the first half to give Vasco a 3-1 lead at halftime.
Tarran January scored Lads’ first goal in the 35th minute.
Nosiphiwo Bottoman scored the Eastern Cape based outfit second in the 74th minute.
As Vasco looked sure they had wrapped the game, they conceded a penalty in the 87th minute which Nandipha Booi buried.
However they didn’t celebrate the equaliser for long as Minnies’ pace and decisiveness saw her complete a brace and restore Vasco’s lead a minute later.
The finale was the sides’ second meeting in less than a week following Lads’ 3-1 loss to Vasco in the Group stages.
The two sides have already gained promotion to the Hollywoodbets Super League when they won their respective semi-finals last Friday but the Western Cape side went home with the winners’ trophy, R200k and bragging rights.
Vasco also dominated the Individual awards, Miche Minnies won the top goal scorer and player of the tournament accolades, goalkeeper of the tournament went to Jessica Williams, while Young promising player of the tournament went to Sbongakonke Mzombe from Lindelani Ladies. City Lads also won R100k for their efforts.
