UWC Ladies make CAF Women's Champions League history

The Western Cape outfit overcame Gaborone United 9-8 on penalties – after regulation and extra-time ended 1-1 – to win in the final and clinch their tickets to the tournament proper, for which the hosts and schedule have yet to be announced.

Skipper Amogelang Motau came close to the opener in the 21st minute but she sent her effort from inside the box narrowly wide of the target as United were caught in sixes and sevens.

UWC did face a scare before the break when Lonathemba Mhlongo was called to make a timely stop after the Botswanans sliced through the South Africans' defence.

However, there was no separating the two sides at the interval, with the game still very much in the balance.

It took all of 70 minutes before the deadlock was finally broken, with substitutes Tiffany Kortjie and Ntombifikile Ndlovu combining down the right flank, before the latter picked out Noxolo Cesane, who tapped home with ease.

Gaborone United did not roll over from there as they surged forward in search of a leveller, and it took just nine minutes for parity to be restored as Laone Moloi heading home from close range.

The final 10 minutes of regulation time saw UWC trying to restore their lead to avoid an extra half hour of football, but the United defence held firm.

The Cape side showed plenty of resilience in extra-time as they held the lion's share of the ball, but it didn't result in much as shots from range failed to trouble the opponents.

The students came close to snatching the lead when they struck the woodwork in the second half of extra-time, but ultimately the tie had to be decided by a penalty shootout.

Siphesihle Dlamini proved the hero in sudden death of the shootout as she saved the Gaborone outfit's ninth spot-kick, before Simnikiwe Mhlakaza slotted home the winning penalty.

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