Birds reach next round

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - It seems as if Oriented Birds Football Club have sharpened their skills, as they downed Salim United from Hermanus in the Overberg Region 2-0 in an exciting preliminary-round game in the Western Cape ABC Motsepe Nedbank Cup competition on Saturday 28 September at Kwanokuthula Stadium in Plettenberg Bay.

Skipper Khanyisani "Mashesha" Radebe scored a brace for the Plett team, and their shot-stopper Siphosethu Nyhunyha went home with a clean sheet.

Radebe led his side to their first Nedbank Cup competition win and managed to break through and score his brace in the first half.

Fast pace

The preliminary-round knockout game started at a fast pace, with Birds controlling the centre of the field - pushing for their first goal.

They received a set piece just outside the box, but a Salim centre-back did very well in sweeping away a dangerous ball.

Siyanda "Sporho" Madlala was looking sharp on the attack, creating more chances inside the box, and Birds' Mxolisi Tshabalala was doing well on the left side of the field.

Then Birds took the game from the visiting team, attacking with their wingers - Radebe delivered a powerful strike inside the box and netted his first goal, making it 1-0.

Hitting back, Ntandazo Magqalaza of Salim missed an opportunity inside the box, his shot going over the crossbar.

Radebe scored his second goal, to make it 2-0 just before half-time. No more goals were scored in the second half.

Mfundo Bophela of Oriented Birds clears the ball.