Miya has Cranes flying in World Cup qualifiers

Farouk Miya was once again Uganda's hero as the Standard Liege forward's first half strike earned Uganda a 1-0 victory over Congo Brazzaville at Namboole on Saturday.
Scorer against Comoros at the same venue in September, Miya exchanged neat passes with substitute Kizito Luwagga to re-echo his importance to the Cranes cause.
Victory, Uganda's first in two 2018 World Cup qualifying matches, moves the Cranes top of Group E with four points.
Egypt have three points after one match. The Pharaohs entertain Ghana, who drew with Uganda last month, in Alexandria in the group's other match this weekend.

Congo showed early intent, Uganda's Isaac Isinde making a game-saving interception to starve the ball off the towering Fefebory Dore inside the first 10 minutes.
One of the Red Devils' forays ended in injuries to Ugandan defender Murushid Juuko and Congolese striker Dore as the duo collided and crash-landed.
Juuko came off worse and was replaced by Luwagga before Dore followed him to the bench to pave way for Mbossy Gantoula at the stroke of half time.
Long before then, an enterprising Moses Oloya had weaved his magic past three visiting defenders to release Tonny Mawejje.

Mawejje's touch was a tad heavy, allowing a Congolese defender to arrest him in his tracks. Isinde's resolute tackle on Dore moments later had saved the day for the Cranes.
But when Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic's men broke forward, they were not to be stopped.
Luwagga and Miya interchanged delicious touches before the latter thrust into the box to beat Mongondza Wolfij in the visitors goal on 18 minutes.

The Cranes should have doubled the lead six minutes later but for Luwagga's misjudgment.
The Portugal-based forward was released on a counter, with Miya making a run on the right.
With just one Congolese defender to beat, Miya's pleas for a pass as the pair approached the 18-yard area fell on deaf ears as Luwagga decided to do it his way.
Congo goalkeeper Wolfij came out and was fast on the ball as the crowd gasped in disappointment.
Even when the rebound presented itself to skipper Geoffrey Massa inside the area, the Baroka striker could only drift the ball wide with the goal gaping.

The Cranes began the second half aware they needed a cushion to be safer.
They almost got it 10 minutes inside the half, Miya cutting in from the left and Oloya drifting it back only for Wolfij to save close range from Massa.

Wolfij was again on hand to block Massa's power free-kick moments later.
Then the moment for Mike Azira, the Colorado Rapids midfield anchorman, to make his now for Cranes in qualifying matches.

The man donning jersey 23 replaced Tonny Mawejje, whose rustiness was at times difficult to hide. Azira did just fine alongside the assured Khalid Aucho.
Godfrey Walusimbi then came on for Oloya late on to help in Cranes desperate goalline clearances in a melee that was calmed by goalkeeper Robert Odongkara.

At that point, the hard work had been done. As if to confirm it, goalkeeping coach Fred Kajoba raced half the length of the pitch at full time to congratulate Odongkara, who started in place of injured Dennis Onyango, to congratulate him upon a clean sheet.

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