Uganda Premier League
KCCA FC 2-0 Mbarara City FC
MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo
Friday, 11-12-2020
KCCA FC maintained their 100% winning start to the 2020/21 Uganda Premier League with victory over Mbarara City FC on Friday.
The Kasasiors who sit top of the log after three games, took care of the Ankole Lions 2-0 at Lugogo.
Teenage striker Samuel Ssenyonjo continued his fine scoring run with a goal after Soulymane Bamba had headed into his own net.
It was not the eye-catching performance that everyone expects of KCCA FC, at Lugogo, but it was a job well done.
Victory sees Mike Mutebi’s side move to nine points from three games.
For Mbarara, they remain winless this campaign with just a single point from three games.
KCCA FC struggle at the start but get job done
KCCA FC came into Friday’s game on the back of a thumping 8-0 victory over Onduparaka FC this past Tuesday.
Expecting them to repeat such heroics would be too much of an ask but only a few, if any, expected them to drop points against Mbarara.
They struggled to break down Mbarara in the first half as the Ankole Lions sat deep and looked well organised.
Moses Aliro shot weakly at Muhammad Ssekeba before Iguma’s cross-shot just about cleared the cross-bar.
Uncharacteristic of KCCA, the break through would come via a set-play as Soulymane Bamba deflected Aliro’s free-kick, on 38 minutes, into his own net.
The second half saw a combination of Mbarara trying to force the issue and KCCA settling down and it was more of an open contest.
The visitors were made to pay for their adventures going forward as KCCA started creating chances.
Ssenyonjo who has now scored in every game this season, including a hat trick against Onduparaka, bundled in the second after Ssekeba had charged down Denis Iguma’s earlier shot.
Two could have been three moments later only for a combination of poor finishing and brilliant goalkeeping as Brian Aheebwa failed to score while one on one with Ssekeba before the shot-stopper brilliantly tipped over Ashraf Mugume’s fierce drive from outside the area.
KCCA FC’s only negative in the game was Aliro’s injury just before halftime.
Cautious Mbarara remain winless
Mbarara City FC look like they have a lot to do so as to finish in a decent spot on the table.
After selling several star-players at the start of the season, they are a side clearly deprived of quality.
Against KCCA FC, they came with a plane to try and steal a point from Lugogo. And after seeing Onduparaka lose by eight goals three days earlier, who would blame them?
Taking a point away from Lugogo is a big ask but the early exchanges suggested they could be on course to achieving that.
However, it was their own doing that undone everything as Bamba deflected a teasing free-kick past Ssekeba.
And when KCCA consistently knocked on their door, Ssenyonjo reacted first to a lose ball to point the game to bed on 53 minutes.
The few chances Mbarara got were not decent enough to trouble Charles Lukwago in the KCCA FC goal.
Summer signing Bashir Mutanda saw several shots from distance comfortably saved by Lukwago while former KCCA FC midfielder Solomon Okwalinga shot over from just outside the box.
Their best chance fell to Mutanda after Lukwago fisted a cross into his path but the striker volleyed over from just inside the box.
In their next fixtures, KCCA FC are away to SC Villa on Wednesday while Mbarara hosts Express FC the following day.
How both teams started
KCCA FC
Charles Lukwago (GK), Denis Iguma, Peter Magambo, Herbert Achai, Samson Kigozi, Ashraf Mugume, Moses Aliro, Kezironi Kizito, Juma Balinya, Brian Aheebwa, Samuel Ssenyonjo.
Mbarara City FC
Ssekeba Mohammad (GK), Otieno Steven, Jasper Aheebwa, Hilary Mukundane, Soulymane Bamba, Pistis Balenge, Solomon Okwalinga, Raymond Onyai, Ivan Eyam, Bashir Mutanda, Ronald Odwok.
The other games played on Friday
-MYDA FC 2-3 Onduparaka FC
-Busoga United FC 1-1 Kyetume FC
