FC and Obi fall short in semis

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KNYSNA FOOTBALL NEWS - – Knysna side FC United (FC) and Plettenberg Bay side Oriented Birds (Obi) did not make the final of the Safa Eden Regional Top 16 tournament on Sunday 20 June as both were knocked out in the semi-finals.

The Top 16 tournament was Safa Eden's second knockout competition for its Regional League teams.

The Safa Eden Regional Top 8 tournament was held in Oudtshoorn on 29 and 30 May, three weeks after the league ended, for the eight best-placed teams in the league. After battling their way to second and beating league winners Black Cats along the way, FC finished second.

But, FC would have been hoping to go one better when it came time for the Top 16 tournament to be played in Knysna and Sedgefield on 19 and 20 June. The tournament was played by all 16 teams in the Safa Eden Men's Regional League, and followed a knockout format from the get-go.

Celtics were knocked out in the first round, losing 1-0 to Young Blues in Sedgefield, but Obi sneaked past Benfica by winning 1-0 at the Hornlee Sports Grounds to progress to the quarter-finals.

FC United player Sinesipho Booi traps the ball mid-air to control it.

FC were in action at Hornlee too and despite having the lion's share of possession against United Brothers, the game ended 2-2 in regulation time before FC won 6-5 on penalties. In the quarter-finals, Obi clashed with Paris United in a tense encounter that eventually swung in favour of the men from Plett, who won 3-2.

In a repeat of the Top 8 final, FC faced Peacemakers in their quarter-final but once again made life difficult for themselves, as they enjoyed the majority of the possession but failed to put it to good use.

They conceded a penalty in the final two minutes for the game to end 1-1 and go to a penalty shootout once again. FC sneaked through, this time winning the shootout 4-2 after Peacemakers missed both of their first two penalties.

Obi and FC played contrasting semi-finals. Obi came up against Moonlight who had beaten league winners Black Cats in the quarters, and largely battled to keep the men from Oudtshoorn at bay throughout the game.

Sthembele Nokilalana takes a penalty for FC United.

Despite their best efforts, Obi ultimately bowed to Moonlight, losing 1-0. In the other semi-final, FC faced dark horse Simunye, who had narrowly avoided relegation from the league this season.

Photo gallery: Top 16 soccer on show in Knysna

FC yet again had more possession than their opponents, but largely failed to make use thereof. They were 1-0 ahead at half-time but two second-half goals for Simunye put the George side ahead 2-1. With FC piling pressure on Simunye by putting every ounce of energy into their attacks, they eventually won a penalty in the dying moments of regulation time.

They slotted the penalty home with the last kick of the game to square it up at 2-2 and set up their third penalty shootout of the tournament.

Despite Simunye missing their first penalty, much like their regulation time efforts, FC could not make use of the chance. Simunye won the penalty shootout 4-2 and ended FC's final hopes. Moonlight ultimately beat Simunye 2-1 in the final.

Bolo Chumani of Oriented Birds (orange) jumps over an incoming challenge from a Moonlight player.