James Waindi in Dar es salaam

It was a clash worthy of a cup final, but reigning champions Uganda Cranes and Zanzibar Heroes locked horns for just the quarter-final of this year’s Cecafa Tusker Cup in Dar es salaam.

Cranes scraped their way into the last four after eventually winning the entertaining tie 5-3 on post-match penalties. Underdogs Zanzibar had forced them to a 2-2 draw in regulation time.

The champions scored all their five penalties courtesy of Isaac Isinde, Sadam Ibrahim, Godfrey Walusimbi, Tony Mawejje and Emmanuel Okwi and their towering custodian Robert Odongkara blocked Zanzibar’s Aggrey Morris’ shot to give his side the advantage. Zanzibar’s Wazir Omar, Nadir Haroub and Abdulahalim Humoud scored their spot kicks.

"The match was entertaining, both sides displayed quality football, but I am sure if we had been competing in other competitions we could have comfortably beaten Uganda today. We only assemble a team once a year to compete in the Cecafa

Zanzibar’s Abdulahalim Humoud (left) is challenged by Uganda’s Tony Mawejje during their quarter-final match, Wednesday. [PHOTO: STAFFORD ONDEGO/STANDARD]

Senior Challenge because we are not members of Fifa," Zanzibar’s assistant coach Mohamed Morocco who stood in for suspended English head coach John Stewart said.

Uganda’s coach Bobby Williamson lauded his side for a good display and vowed to go all the way and lift their third trophy in a row.

"Zanzibar are no longer under dogs in this region as you have seen today. My players displayed mental toughness today and I am very proud of them.

"We are going to remain positive and our target is to win a hat trick in the competition," Williamson said.

Uganda, who finished top of group of death where they were pooled with arch rivals Kenya, Malawi and Ethiopia, entered the match without their influential captain Andrew Mweisigwa who was suspended for the match after accumulating two yellow cards in the group stages and his absence was felt at the back as his replacement Derrick Walulya found it hard to contain Zanzibar’s striker Mcha Khamis.

Cranes went ahead in the 14th minute when Mike Sserumaga beat an offside trap to break the deadlock, beating the advancing Zanzibar custodian Mwadini Ali Mwadini.

Mcha Khamis levelled the scores in the 37th minute.