KCCA held by UPDF as Express lose to Mbarara City

Azam Uganda Premier League (AUPL) defending kings KCCA have managed just one goal in 180 minutes of football, thanks to a blunt strike force that no longer boasts of Geoffrey Sserunkuma.

 Against a resilient UPDF side at Bombo on a sunny Saturday afternoon, KCCA scored first though a clinical Muzamir Mutyaba finish after an interplay with Paul Mucureezi and Patrick Kaddu.

 But the visitors could not hold onto their lead for long as Ezekiel Kitende soon grabbed the equaliser. The result sees KCCA drop to 10th with two points. UPDF are just below them with a point.

 Moses Basena's side were the better side throughout  the match and could have stretched the game beyond KCCA's reach only for veteran striker Godfrey Wakaza to miss two clear cut chances.

 KCCA's best chance came through Derrick Nsibambi missed penalty late in the game, a moment manager Mike Mutebi termed as the game changer.

 "I'm glad Nsibambi took on the responsibility to take the penalty but sadly he didn't convert it and that determined the game," Mutebi told Daily Monitor.

Maroons lose to Onduparaka

Caesar Okhuti struck twice as Onduparaka scored their first goals of the Azam Uganda Premier League (AUPL) season to beat Maroons 2-0 at Luzira on Saturday.

 Victory moves the West Nile outfit to second on the log with four points. They kicked off the season with a goalless draw with Proline on Tuesday.

 Asaph Mwebaze’s Maroons were suffering their first defeat in two matches after firing blanks in their opening game against KCCA midweek. The Prisons side drop bottom of the 16-team log.

 Both sides had interesting early confrontations, with Onduparaka goalkeeper Nicholas Sebwato winning duels with Maroons striker William Wadri, and the hosts’ custodian Emmanuel Akol standing tall against Okhuti and Gadafi Gadinho.

The first 45 minutes could not separate the two sides at Maroons Stadium. However, Onduparaka had gone into the break in ascendency.

 And it did not take long for the Caterpillars to hurt after recess, Okhuti shielding off two Maroons defenders to squeeze it in past an otherwise impressive Akol on 54 minutes.

 The visitors doubled their advantage just after the hour, Allan Anguyo – acres of space between him, the rest of the pack and his goalkeeper – behaving like he had all the time in the world.

 Hungry for more, Okhuti charged at him from the back, dispossessing Anguyo and beating a hapless Akol in goal for Onduparaka’s second. 

Express fall to Mbarara City

 In Mbarara, Newly promoted Mbarara City beat traditional giants Express 1-0 at Kakyeka Stadium on Saturday as the Western side claimed their first Azam Uganda Premier League (AUPL) victory.

 Pistis Balenge was the hosts’ hero, netting the only goal of the game from a free kick 25 yards away from goal.

 The 71st minute strike sees the Ankole Lions go fifth on the log with four points. They opened their topflight account with a goalless stalemate against Bul midweek.

 Defeat for Express, the six-time league champions, sees them drop to third from bottom with just a point after two matches. 

  By the time the goal game at Kakyeka, home fans had increasingly grown impatient following a series of half chances. 

 Express upped the ante after falling behind but could not break down the solid Lions defence. Daniel Sserunkuma and Steven Bengo struggled to show their worth in vain. 

 Police and Villa draw

Police and SC Villa moved joint top of the Azam Uganda Premier League (AUPL) after playing out a 1-1 draw in an entertaining game played at Mandela National Stadium on Saturday evening.

The result put both clubs on four points from two games and level with four other sides Onduparaka, Kirinya-Jinja, Mbarara and Vipers.

 Visitors Villa will, however, feel more upset with the result. Despite ceding possession for long periods to Police, they created the better chances in the game.

 They took a 30th minute lead when captain Bernard Muwanga played in Allan Kyambadde with a lofted ball on the left. The attacker took one touch before centering for the on-rushing Godfrey Lwesibawa to side-foot home.

At the time, they had been the dominant side with Kyambadde creating a good chance when he nicked the ball past Police goalkeeper Douglas Kisembo to set up Lwesibawa.

The winger’s shot was however swiftly blocked by some good Police defending while George Senkaaba also shot over the bar after connecting with an Abel Eturedde long pass.

The striker also headed wide from a Lwesibawa corner after Kisembo misjudged the ball while the best chance for Police fell to Norman Ogik who headed wide from an Aggrey Madoi cross.

On resumption however it was Police who dethroned Villa when they last won the league in 2—4 who were the better side.

Playmaker Albert Mugisa who was making his debut for Police in the topflight league played in Yasin Mugume on the right with the winger shooting straight at Villa goalkeeper Samson Kirya.

Police were then in ascendency as Gift Ali, Rahmat Ssenfuka, Juma Balinya and Mugume weaved good patterns in midfield.

Villa, however, continued to curve out the better openings despite Police possession.

Substitute Alex Kitatta, who had replaced Ssenkaaba, should have done better than failing to control a John Adriko pass that put him through on goal after 65 minutes.

They were made to pay 11 minutes later when the elusive Juma Balinya found substitute Hood Kaweesa with the striker lifting the ball over advancing Samson Kirya in the Villa goal.

Kitatta then wasted the best chance of the game when fellow substitute Martin Kizza played a delightful low centre from the left which he failed to connect with from inside the six yard box.

  The watching Vipers head coach Jorge Da Costa will have taken note of their profligacy with the two teams facing off on Saturday. Police meanwhile host Proline on Friday.