Young Gladiators thrashed by SA

THE Young Gladiators lost 4-0 to South Africa in their second leg match to confine them to a 9-0 aggregate defeat in their 2018 u20 Women’s World Cup encounter at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Sunday.

The score in Johannesburg two weeks ago was 5-0 in favour of South Africa and the Young Gladiators were hoping to put up a better performance on their home turf in the return match on Sunday.

But it was South Africa who took the lead on 22 minutes when Gabriela Salgado pounced onto a loose ball after the Young Gladiators defence failed to clear a free kick.

The home side regrouped with Millicent Hikuam marshalling the defence well, while Mellissa Matheus in goal and right back Anna Shaende were also in fine form.

Memory Ngonda started in attack but due to a lack of supply from the midfield, she was unable to make an impact together with striker partner Kylie van Wyk.

South Africa got their second goal on 34 minutes, thanks to captain Linda Motlhalo, who finished past the advancing Matheus after a well weighted pass from Ntombi Ndlovu.

In the second half, Beverly Uueziua and Iyaloo Rooi came on for Kamunikire Tjituka and Veronica van Wyk respectively, as the home side looked to restore some pride.

South Africa however had other ideas and barely two minutes after the restart they went 3-0 ahead when Motlhalo scored an audacious free kick from 35 metres that flew into the top corner over the head of a hapless Matheus.

For Namibia, Ngonda and Hikuam both had freekicks saved, but South Africa went 4-0 ahead when Ndlovu made it 4-0 from close range on 63 minutes to seal South Africa’s place in the second round of the African leg of the qualifiers.

In the final stages, Julia Rutjindo came on for Alicia Gertze, allowing Hikuam to move into midfield to supply the threatening Rooi, while Uueziua stamped her authority down the right wing and had a dangerous cross turned wide by Namibia’s versatile captain Ngonda.

After the match, Young Gladiators assistant coach Shama Gure, who stood in for Mervin Mbakera who got married last weekend, said the mental strength of the opposition won the game for them.

“The mental strength of South Africa was our downfall today – they were quicker and more clinical with their possession and we always had to play catch up. It was a learning curve for us but we will go back to the drawing board and try to come back better next time,” he said.

Memory Ngonda won the Telecom Namibia (TN) Mobile Lady of the Match award of a cellphone, courtesy of TN Mobile.

South Africa will now face Burundi in the second round in November with that winner to advance to the third and final round of qualification for the 2018 Fifa Women u20 World Cup which will take place in France. Africa will have only two representatives. – nfa.org.na