CAFWCL COSAFA Qualifiers: Gaborone United Ladies reach final again

Gaborone United Ladies overcame video assistant referee (VAR) scare to defeat Costa do Sol 3-1 and book a second consecutive final berth in South Africa on Friday.

The semifinal of the CAF Women’s Champions League: COSAFA Qualifiers proved to be an explosive affair at AW Muller Stadium in Johannesburg.

Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse struck in either half in between Maungo Maponga’s goal to boot out the Mozambicans.

Ontlametse struck first for Gaborone in the 15^th minute against the run of play after Costa do Sol had given away possession cheaply.

Coach Khaled Niyozima’s girls breached the opponents’ high defensive line before the striker raced clear to sweep the ball around the keeper into the far low pocket of the net.

With three minutes remaining to half-time, Maponga increased the lead for Khaled Niyozima’s girls. Samira Latifo reduced the arrears for the Mozambican champions on the stroke of half-time.

The second half started on a high tempo as the champions from Botswana sought to add a third goal while the Mozambicans pushed for an equaliser.

Gaborone survived a big scare when Costa do Sol made penalty appeals after their player, Aurora Ngale, was challenged strongly while trying to shoot in the 82^nd minute.

However, after consulting VAR, Namibia referee Victoria Nuusiku ruled that the defender got the ball first; hence, the challenge did not warrant a penalty.

That seemed the last real scoring opportunity for Costa do Sol who were haunted five minutes later as Ontlametse netted her second goal of the afternoon.

The towering forward timed her run well on the left avenue, beat the offside trap before controlling a high ball floated from the right, then fired into the roof of the net.

With that goal, there was simply no way back into the game for Costa do Sol. Gaborone await in the final either Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies or ZESCO Ndola Ladies who met in another semifinal on Friday.

The Botswana champions lost to the University of the Western Cape FC in last year’s final staged in Malawi. This year, they want the ultimate title.