PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Oriented Birds FC secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Woza Woza Tournament this past Sunday after edging past St Francis FC in a dramatic penalty shootout at Kwanokuthula Stadium.
The match ended 1-1 in regulation time before the Birds triumphed 3-1 on penalties.
The tightly contested last-16 encounter saw both sides fighting for control, with no goals in the first half despite chances on both ends. St Francis' Lithemba Malanduka came close to opening the scoring, but his effort was well dealt with by the Oriented Birds defence.
On the opposite side, Melisizwe Duda impressed with his pace and movement, igniting the home crowd.
The deadlock was broken in the second half when Sonwabo Ngqukuva found the net for St Francis, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead after a slick attacking move. However, the reigning champions responded with intensity.
Bandile Ntukantu equalised for the Birds, silencing the travelling fans and sending the match into a tense final stretch.
With neither team able to produce a winner in regulation time, the game went straight to penalties.
Nyunya the hero
Goalkeeper Sesethu Nyunya was the standout performer for Oriented Birds, making several vital saves during the match and denying St Francis' first penalty kick in the shootout.
His heroics ensured a 3-1 win on penalties for the Birds and a well-earned place in the quarter-finals.
Ngqukuva also earned praise for his performance, posing a constant threat down the flank for St Francis.
Quarter-final line-up set
The victory places Oriented Birds among the final eight teams battling for the
R45 000 grand prize. Joining them in the quarter-finals are Potso Stars (Hankey), Y2K FC (Plettenberg Bay), Ngxongo Deluxe FC (Hankey), Mdodana FC (Gqeberha), Abahlobo FC (Knysna), Wits United FC (Jeffrey's Bay) and FC United (Knysna).
The Woza Woza quarter-finals and final will be played this coming Sunday at Kwanokuthula Stadium in what promises to be an action-packed showdown.
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