Easthigh girls' soccer advances to the next stage of Engen Cup
Easthigh Ladies Academy defeated Super Strikers FC on penalties in the 2025 Engen Knockout Challenge, dubbed the Engen Cup, in the U18 women's football Mbombela stream. The teams played to a 0-0 draw, but Easthigh won 4-2 on penalties at Lowveld High School sports ground on Saturday, June 28.
Strikers defeated Crystal Lake Ladies and Easthigh Academy won against Butterfly Ladies earlier in the day. In a thrilling display of grassroot soccer, both Easthigh Ladies and Super Strikers played well.
Easthigh's defence was tested by a shot on target from Super Strikers' Naledi Nkosi in the 11th minute. Strikers continued to look for the opening goal using their right winger, Dimakatso Rakolle, but Easthigh defender, Whitney Havene, made sure that Rakolle did not succeed.
Late in the first half, Easthigh bounced back by creating opportunities, but failed to score. In the 44th minute, Gift Shabangu of Super Strikers hit the woodwork from just outside the box after teammate Banele Fakude of Super Strikers was fouled by Khethiwe Mthombeni.
ALSO READ: UMP raises Mpumalanga flag at university sports games
The second half started with intense play from both teams. Easthigh attacked directly in attempts to score a goal, while Strikers used their wingers, Shabangu and Rakolle, to attack and were rewarded with numerous corner kicks.
In the 71st minute, Kamogelo Marogo of Easthigh missed a long-range shot. Marogo was fouled in the box in the 79th minute after a corner kick, but the referee, Siphephelo Mlotha, denied them a penalty.
Mlotha awarded a red card to a member of Super Strikers' technical team, Njabulo Nkosi, for using unsporting language in the 85th minute of the game. Easthigh Ladies advanced to the next stage of the knockout cup.
The U17 boys games took place at the Valencia Sports Complex and St Mark's International School sports grounds.
The results of the Mbombela stream were:
• Mpumalanga School of Excellence 4-1 TS Galaxy Academy
• TS Matsulu 0-3 Sinani FC
• Junior Spurs FC 0(1)-0(2) FC Thando
• Black Medal FC 0-2 Black Pain
• Mataffin Hot Spurs 1-4 Easthigh Academy
• Fortune Academy 1(4)-1(2) Barberton Academy
• Mthimba FA 2-0 Game United.
ALSO READ: Mpumalanga Men's Conference encourages leadership
The 2025 Engen Knockout Challenge comprises of three streams – Mbombela, Nkomazi and Bushbuckridge. The top eight teams remaining in each stream will compete against one another.
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