Upington City 3-3 Pretoria University: Six-Goal Thriller Ends All Square in Motsepe Foundation Championship

Upington City and Pretoria University played out a breathless 3-3 draw in the Motsepe Foundation Championship on 19 September 2026, a result that perfectly captured the unpredictable nature of South Africa’s second tier. On a night when defences were repeatedly unlocked, both sides traded blows in a contest that swung one way and then the other before finishing level.

The home side, backed by a lively crowd in Upington, twice led and looked capable of pulling clear, but Pretoria University’s resilience and clinical counter-attacking kept them in touch. By the final whistle, a share of the points felt both frustrating and fair for two teams chasing very different objectives in the 2026-27 campaign.

Match Overview

Upington City started with intent, pressing high and forcing the visitors into early mistakes. The opening goal arrived inside the first quarter of an hour, setting the tone for a match that would rarely settle into a tactical arm-wrestle. Pretoria University responded well, equalising through a well-worked move before Upington restored their advantage.

The second half was even more open. Pretoria University levelled again, then took the lead for the first time after a quick turnover in midfield. Just when it seemed the visitors would hold on, Upington City found a late equaliser to cap a remarkable night of attacking football.

Key Moments

• 12’ – Upington City 1-0: Katlego Mothibi latched onto a through ball and finished calmly past the advancing goalkeeper.
• 22’ – Pretoria University 1-1: Sipho Mahlangu curled a left-footed effort into the far corner after a short corner routine.
• 34’ – Upington City 2-1: Thabang Sesinyi rose highest at the back post to head home a teasing cross.
• 56’ – Pretoria University 2-2: Tebogo Potsane converted from the penalty spot after a foul in the box.
• 78’ – Pretoria University 3-2: Tumelo Mokwena finished off a sweeping counter-attack with a low drive.
• 90+2’ – Upington City 3-3: Ricardo Nascimento smashed in a dramatic late equaliser from the edge of the area.

Tactical Story

Upington City set up in a fluid 4-2-3-1, looking to use width and early crosses to test Pretoria University’s centre-backs. Their full-backs pushed high, and the midfield duo of Mothibi and Sesinyi rotated well to create overloads on the flanks. However, that attacking ambition left space in behind, which Pretoria University exploited ruthlessly on the break.

Pretoria University, by contrast, were content to sit slightly deeper and spring forward with pace. Their 4-4-2 shape became a 4-2-4 in transition, with Potsane and Mokwena causing constant problems with their movement. The visitors’ ability to convert defence into attack in seconds was the defining feature of their performance, even if they were ultimately denied all three points.

Standout Players

Katlego Mothibi was the heartbeat of Upington City’s attack, not only scoring the opener but also linking play intelligently and dragging defenders out of position. Thabang Sesinyi’s aerial threat was a constant outlet, and Ricardo Nascimento’s late goal underlined his knack for being in the right place at the right time.

For Pretoria University, Tebogo Potsane was a menace throughout, combining penalty-box composure with intelligent pressing. Sipho Mahlangu dictated the tempo in midfield, while Tumelo Mokwena’s pace on the counter gave the home defence nightmares. Goalkeeper Ruan van der Merwe also made two crucial second-half saves to keep his side level before the late drama.

Table and Season Impact

The draw leaves both teams in the middle of a congested Motsepe Foundation Championship table. Upington City will feel they dropped two points after leading late, but the performance confirmed their attacking potential. Pretoria University, meanwhile, will take encouragement from a resilient away display and their ability to score three times on the road.

With the season still in its early months, both clubs remain firmly in the hunt for a promotion play-off spot. However, the defensive vulnerabilities on show will give both coaching staffs plenty to work on. In a league where consistency is often the difference between promotion and mid-table obscurity, turning draws like this into wins will be the next step.