Vulumzi hang on to U19 title at VP tourney

MOTHERWELL's Vulumzi soccer team successfully defended their under-19 title when they beat Bloemfontein outfit Brebner in the VP Powerade Soccer Challenge at the weekend.

Their success, however, came in tense circumstances as they needed penalty shootouts to win their last two games.

In the first semifinal, Vulumzi and Sanctor played to a 2-2 draw before the eventual champions won the shootout.

In the other semifinal, Brebner overcame Pearson to qualify for the final.

Pearson and Bethelsdorp played to a draw in the third- place playoff match, but Bethelsdorp won on penalties to walk away with the bronze medal.

The final match between Brebner and Vulumzi was closely contested and also ended in a draw.

Vulumzi, however, then held their nerve in the penalty shootout to retain the title.

In the U16 boys' section, there was some consolation for hosts VP, who had been knocked out of the U19 competition at the quarterfinal stage. In the U16 event, they went all the way when Onela Gquma's solitary goal in the final against Bethelsdorp secured the trophy.

Victoria Park beat Lawson Brown in the semifinals, while Bethelsdorp advanced by ousting Strelitzia. Lawson Brown went on to beat Strelitzia in the third-place playoff.

Bethelsdorp took the girls' honours when they defeated champions Vulumzi 2-1 in a closely-contested final.

Bethelsdorp qualified for the final after overcoming Hudson Park in the semifinals 2-1, while Vulumzi outscored Victoria Park 2-1 in the other semi.

The third-place playoff between Hudson Park and VP ended in an exciting 1-1 draw after Hudson Park took the early lead in the game, with VP fighting back to level the match. VP went on to win the penalty shootout to take the bronze medal.