Downs Ladies Lose In Cosafa Final Shootout

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies lost to Green Buffaloes, as a penalty shootout decided the winners of the CAF Women’s Champions League Cosafa Region Final at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The match ended goalless after 120 minutes of football, with Sundowns playing 40 minutes with ten players. All five regulation penalties were scored by both teams, but Sundowns missed three in sudden-death, and while Andile Dlamini saved one and there was one miss, Buffaloes scored their final penalty to win 6-5.

Both Sundowns and Buffaloes had already qualified for the continental finals in Morocco by reaching the final.

It was a competitive first half between the two finalists, with Sundowns perhaps edging it. Rhoda Muluadzi had a good chance just before the half hour mark, but her attempt was saved.

Buffaloes’ Hellen Chanda was causing problems for Sundowns’ defence and went close again in the 39th minute, but her effort was just wide. 

Muluadzi missed another chance at the start of the second half, as the match remained goalless.

Both teams continued to threaten, and Chanda went close for Buffaloes in the 73rd minute, but her effort went just wide of Andile Dlamini’s goal.

Things got tougher for the South African club in the 81st when Oratile Mokwena picked up her second yellow card.

Melinda Kgadiete went close to a late winner in the 86th minute, but at the end of 90 minutes, there was still no winner.

Chanda went close ten minutes into the first half of extra time, but while getting past Dlamini, her shot lacked power and the defence cleared, while Chuene Morifi went close just before the break.

Despite the numerical disadvantage Sundowns remained in control, but goal attempts remained elusive, though just before the final whistle Sundowns had a great chance that was thwarted by good defence.

In the end, it came down to penalties to decide the COSAFA region winner.

In this week’s edition of iDiski Times, we catch up with former Mamelodi Sundowns star Sibusiso Vilakazi as he talks about his ups and downs with the Brazilians, as well as his ambitions with TS Galaxy. We also hear from the newly appointed Chippa United coach, Daine Klate, who reveals what type of football he wants his team to play, and why he decided to take on one of the hottest seats in PSL coaching. There are also interviews with Kaitano Tembo and Jerry Tshabalala, as well as a preview of the highly anticipated battle between Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns this weekend. Get this and more in the full edition of iDiski Times below: