CHAN 2020
Uganda 4-1 Somalia
StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo
Saturday, 03-08-2019
LUGOGO – The Uganda Cranes ensured safe passage to the second round of the CHAN 2020 qualifiers following a 4-1 win over Somalia on Saturday afternoon.
Going into the second leg with a 3-1 victory in the first, the Cranes were magnificent and professional as they got the job done at Lugogo.
KCCA FC striker Patrick Kaddu bagged a hat-trick, scoring twice in the first half before completing his treble four minutes into the second.
Earlier, Allan Kyambadde had temporarily made it 2-0 to the Cranes.
Somalia got a consolation in the final minute of the 90 off Charles Lukwago’s mistake. The custodian collected a routine ball, tried to play around with it before handing it to Abdullahi Tabul who tapped into an empty net.
Ruthless Cranes leave Somalia for dead
Having reached all of the last four CHAN finals, the Cranes were expected to win the tie and reach the next round, something they achieved with utmost ease.
As early as the third minute, Kaddu was brought down in the area by Bana Haji, as the KCCA FC striker tried to chest down Allan Okello’s lofted pass. After the referee awarded a penalty, Kaddu picked himself up and slotted in the day’s openner.
With Somalia growing into the game and creating chances of their own, they were caught on the break by Uganda with Okello sending Kyambadde on his way before the former SC Villa and Express midfielder slotted in under the on-rushing Hassan Ibrahim Ali for the second goal.
Two would soon become three with just a minute to halftime. Allan Kayiwa was brought down in the area prompting referee Mohamed El Treefe to award Uganda a second penalty.
Again Kaddu took over responsibility, sending Hassan Ibrahim the wrong way and in process, making it 3-0.
Kaddu completed his hat-trick in the 49th minute, heading in Kizza’s inch perfect corner.
Cranes miss chances to score more
Abdallah Mubiru’s side were dominant throughout the opening half and Saddam Juma was guilty of missing a chance at the hour mark as he placed into the side netting following neat play involving Mustapha Kizza and Allan Kyambadde.
Okello had also earlier missed a half chance as he tried to bend one into the top corner but blazed over.
With some going in, one hit the cross bar. After Kyambadde was fouled close to the penalty area, Kizza curled a free-kick which was goal bound but Hassan Ibrahim tipped it onto the cross bar before Somalia cleared their lines.
At the start of the second half, Okello received a precise cross from Kizza but headed over just a few yards from goal.
Kizza who is know for his dead-ball accuracy sent one agonisingly over in the second half.
Substitute Bright Anukani had a magnificent attempt pushed over for a corner after coming on for Kayiwa.
Okello had a chance to make it 5 on 75 minutes but shot tamely at Hassan after the goalkeeper had made a mess of Kizza’s free-kick.
In the dying minutes of the game, Kizza saw another free-kicked pushed away for a fruitless corner by Hassan.
Somalia struggles to cope with brilliant Cranes
Somalia have failed to reach any of the first five CHAN finals and if their display over two legs is to go by, one must not wonder why the small nation have failed in successive attempts.
The visitors lost 3-1 in the first leg and made not attempt to overcome the deficit on Saturday.
Hussein Basey was guilty of missing their best chance in the first half as he blazed over from inside the area after good work down the right by Mohamed Adan.
Mohamed Hussein saw a free kick tipped over by Lukwago in a game of few chances for Somalia.
With the game lost, custodian Hassan resorted to verbally attacking the referee. He also attempted to get Kaddu sent off as he made too much of a seemingly light contact with the striker on 64 minutes, one that Trefee did not fall for.
Mohamed Ahmed had a glorious opportunity to pull one back with 10 minutes to play but shot tamely at Charles Lukwago after Abdinur Mohamed’s cross picked him out-unmarked- in the area.
Uganda marches onto the next round of qualification with a 7-2 aggregate. They next face the winner between Burundi and South Sudan who face-off in the return leg on Sunday.
Cranes starting XI
Charles Lukwago, Paul Willa, Mustapha Kizza, John Revita, Mustafa Mujuzi (c), Saddam Juma, Allan Kyambadde, Muzamir Mutyaba, Allan Okello, Allan Kayiwa, Patrick Kaddu.
Substitutes
Bright Anukani on for Kayiwa
Dan Sserunkuma on for Kaddu
Shafick Kagimu on for Allan Okello
