Sundowns Ladies one point away from retaining league title

Goals by Boitumelo Rabale, Karabo Dhlamini and Melinda Kgadiete were enough to edge the Brazilians closer to their record sixth consecutive league title – no other team has lifted the trophy since the start of the South African elite women’s football league in the 2019/20 season.

Jerry Tshabalala’s charges could wrap up the contest after the international break when they face cross-town rivals TUT Matsatsantsa Ladies in another Tshwane Derby on 9 November.

A win there for the Brazilians will render the final match of the season against hopeful title-chasing University of the Western Cape (UWC) a formality.

The Capetonians, who are left with four matches, are almost guaranteed second place, but will have to contend with dark horses, the fourth-placed TS Galaxy Queens who are pushing hard to improve on their standings and finish either second or third.

UWC are currently on 66 points and need just one more to secure their second place as they have a far superior goal difference.

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The University of Johannesburg is third on 62 points with one game remaining – while TS Galaxy Queens are on 55 with four games in hand. The highest that UJ can reach is 65, and the Rockets can get to 67.

The Mpumalanga side face the relegated Thunderbirds Ladies on Sunday (13 October) at the Mbombela Stadium, and victory there will bring them closer to their target.

UWC has a tough road ahead, with JVW, TS Galaxy Queens, Fort Hare and Sundowns Ladies lying in wait.

After Thunderbirds Ladies, TS Galaxy Queens will be up against City Lads Ladies, UWC and Richmond United.

UJ Ladies are only left with the relegated Lindelani Ladies.

With two games remaining, JVW are almost assured of a fifth place finish, a drop of two spots from last season where they ended third.

First Touch Ladies have secured their top eight position, but it’s touch and go for the University of Pretoria (7^th) and Royal AM (8^th) with newcomers University of Fort Hare knocking on the door.