University of Western Cape (UWC) will play Gaborone United in the final of the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers after annihilating Young Buffaloes 6-0 in their semi-final on Thursday at Mpira Stadium.
The Hollywoodbets Super League side drew first blood in the seventh minute from a Nondumiso Manengela penalty after the goalkeeper brought Philisa Mjambane down in the box.
Bongeka Gamede made it 2-0 in the 26th minute from a corner. This was her third goal of the tournament and also her third goal scored from a set-piece.
The eSwatini champions were lucky to not concede late in the half when Futhie Dlamini tried to clear a dangerous ball while facing her own net, her header luckily went over the bar.
Mjambane had a golden chance to triple the lead in injury-time but was denied by the woodwork, leaving UWC leading 2-0 at half-time.
In the second half, UWC made two changes introducing Ntombifikile Ndlovu for Manengela and Sibulele Holweni for Mjambane. The students won a free-kick three minutes into the half, and Gamede stepped up but this time her efforts went wide. There was another chance for Gamede two minutes later from a Cesane pass but the former kicked into the keeper’s hands.
UWC continued to apply pressure however wasted a few set-pieces and finally cracked the Buffaloes again as substitute Ndlovu scored one of the easiest goals in the 62nd minute make it 3-0.
They were not done, as Tiffany Kortjie also registered her name of the score sheet in the 74th minute to make it 4-0. Koketso Mamabolo made it 5-0 at the 80th minute with Holweni sealing the big victory with a sixth one from the penalty spot.
Coach Thinasonke Mbuli had made three changes to the side that defeated Herentals Queens in their last game starting Amogelang Motau, Holweni and Fikile Magama on the bench in preference of Antonia Maponya, Manengela and Kortjie.
