Bor’s nine-man team defeated Bentiu’s team in the finals of the National Unity Day (NUD) Cup on the 68th at Buluk playground in Juba.
Bor striker, Magai, put the champions ahead in the 27th minute of the game. He capitalised on a terrible goalkeeping error by the Bentiu goalkeeper, placing the ball perfectly into the corner of the net.
Bentiu fought back hard after conceding a silly goal, but they were unable to break through Bor’s solid defence in the first half.
In the 43rd minute of the first half, a Bor player received a straight red card for purposefully kicking an opponent in the mouth after he was fouled by him.
The game appeared to be a foregone conclusion for the Bentiu team, especially after their impressive performance in the opening 20 minutes, but it turned out to be a different tale as the oilmen were unable to exploit Bor side’s nine-man line-up.
Governor Denay Chagor’s side won the first half 1-0 owing to Magai’s heroics.
The Bentiu team got off to a good start in the second half. They were able to obtain an equalizer in the 50th minute through their winger Gatkouth, who was wearing jersey number 5.
It was the goal that forced the two clubs to a penalty shoot-out, which Bor won 4-1. The drama came in the penalty shoot-out, where the Bentiu boy was only able to score one goal out of five opportunities.
The Bor player got off to a good start with the penalty, throwing the Bentiu goalkeeper, who had been brought in specifically for the shoot-out, in the wrong direction to make it a one-nil game.
The game’s man of the match, Chiok Biel, took one of Bentiu’s worst penalties, sending it wide off the goal post. Their second chance was also saved by the Bor goalkeeper.
Denay’s men were well-trained on how to take penalties as they funnelled all four balls into the back of the net.
It was one of the most beautiful and spectacular finals ever, with all of the Bor fans unable to stop dancing at the Buluk playground, forcing the opposing team to carry them because they could not believe they had won the game.