In a thrilling 2-0 win, the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) dominance over Wits University football team added a second consecutive win on Thursday, 04 August 2022 at the Wits Stadium. UJ, who are the defending champions in the 2022 FNB Varsity Football tournament, are on course to challenge for this year’s title again.
This was a second away match for the Orange Army (UJ), with four upcoming matches to be played at the UJ Soweto Stadium (UJ home ground) on 11, 18, and 25 August as well as 8 September 2022.
In a packed Wits Stadium, FNB UJ took an early lead through Philane Masondo’s goal. The high intensity game lived up to its derby promise, with the two teams both taking shots at goals to a cheering Wits and UJ crowd.
Wits looked unsettled in the first half as UJ played in the opposition’s own half. UJ head coach, Karabo Mogudi, received a yellow card in the first half of the match for his animated complains due to his players getting knocked down by Wits’ rough tackles on the pitch.
UJ goal scorer and Man of the Match, Masondo, said that winning the award is a good sign that his has worked hard because people notice his contribution to the team. He believes that playing in the Varsity Football tournament will open doors for him to be signed to a Premier Soccer League team in the DSTV Premiership.
UJ goalkeeper, Richard Lona, played a crucial role in keeping the team in the game. This was his first clean sheet since the start of the 2022 FNB Varsity Football edition.
“We have worked hard for this one. The goals that we conceded previously were due to our mistakes, there is no team that played good football to get a goal, we just gave them the goals. This week we stuck to the basics, I am so happy and proud of the boys’ performances,” said Lona.
Lona emphasized that it took him four years to play in the Varsity Football and is looking forward to seeing what the tournament has in store for him.
The Wits team tried on multiple occasions to break UJ’s defense to get an equalizer, but the UJ defense denied them an opportunity to score.
Thulani Zandamela extended UJ’s lead in the 78th minute through good passage of the ball from UJ players. Masondo’s and Zandamela’s two consecutive goals were a replica of round 2’s result against the University of Pretoria (UP-Tuks) on Thursday, 28 July at Tuks Stadium.
Goal scorers:
Philane Masondo and Thulani Zandamela
Man of the match:
Philane Masondo (UJ)
