Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies returned to winning form in emphatic fashion with a 2-0 triumph over the University of Pretoria on Wednesday evening at Lucas Moripe Stadium. Goals from Noxolo Cesane in the 8th minute and Boitumelo Rabale in first-half stoppage time secured a well-earned three points for the reigning Hollywoodbets Super League Champions.
After being held to a 1–1 draw last weekend against the University of the Western Cape (UWC), the Brazilians came into this clash with renewed urgency—and it showed. From the first whistle, the home side controlled possession, dictated the tempo, and carved out numerous chances against a University of Pretoria side that set up to frustrate.
Cesane opened the scoring early with a composed finish after sustained pressure, while Rabale added a deserved second just before halftime, capitalizing on a defensive lapse with a calm strike.
Reflecting on the performance, forward Melinda Kgadiete praised the team’s dominance and tactical discipline:
“They came with a plan to sit deep in a low block and hit us on the counter whenever they got the chance. It was clear they did not want to build up play or open up the game, so we had to be very patient and sharp with our movement. From the start, we dominated possession and controlled every phase of the game. Honestly, we deserved more than just two goals. We created so many chances—it could have been four or five easily. I know I had a few clear opportunities that I should have buried. But that is football. The most important thing is that we got the win, and we did it with style and intensity.”
Midfielder Khutso Pila highlighted the team’s mental toughness and ability to learn from setbacks:
“It was not an easy game by any means. Coming from a tough draw against UWC, we were all a bit disappointed. But we went back to the drawing board, fixed the mistakes and came into this game more focused and united. We took the lessons from last weekend seriously, and we made sure not to repeat them. You could see the hunger in how we pressed, how we passed, and how we stayed organised defensively. Everyone was locked in from the start, and that energy helped us keep the pressure on them the entire match.”
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies now shift their focus to another key clash as they travel to face Durban Ladies on Sunday, 10 August 2025. The match will be played at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00.
