Friday, February 24
*SC Villa 2-1 Onduparaka
*KCCA 3-2 Arua Hill
*Maroons 0-0 Bright Stars
KCCA managed to overcome Arua Hill in a five-goal thriller at Omondi Stadium in Lugogo.
Two quick goals from Muhammad Shaban looked to have put KCCA in early control but the Visitors halved the deficit through Isaac Ogwang.
Rogers Mato restored the two-goal advantage at the hour mark before Arua Hill got their second through Innocent Media to give the game a tense finish.
But KCCA held on and survived a some nervy moments as Arua Hill looked for a leveller.
The Victory, 11th for KCCA, sends Morley Byekwaso’s side to 35 points, six above BUL in second who drew with UPDF FC at Bombo on Tuesday.
This was Arua Hill’s first game of the Second round, and the side remain on 23 points.
KCCA Show Title Character
In his Pre-match conference on Thursday, KCCA coach Morley Byekwaso expressed his awareness on how difficult Arua Hill will be, especially it’s the team that had beaten them 3-1 in the first round at Barifa.
But he went on to state that it’s a win they must get to show that they are serious on winning the title.
On any other day, this is a game KCCA would have failed to pick maximum points after Arua Hill showed great resolve.
But it was Muhammad Shaban who set the tone with two goals before the 13th minute.
His second showed instincts of a great poacher, lurked on before robbing Isaac Okello before sending it far beyond the keeper’s reach.
But KCCA couldn’t show the same brilliance at the back when their defence was beaten by a good delivery by Innocent Media for Isaac Ogwang to score with a simple flick.
Winning a title, you must have luck on your side as well. And KCCA rode on luck for some stretches.
Bright Vuni almost levelled from Gaddafi Wahab’s corner, the latter was later denied by Ochan when he went for power.
And Arua Hill had a penalty appeal denied when KCCA Goalkeeper Ochan hurtled into Rashid Kawawa.
KCCA looked like they had won it when Mato, put through by Allan Okello, bundled in from close range.
But Arua Hill came back into the contest with Innocent Media heading onto Wahab’s freekick past Ochan in goal.
And another Arua Hill penalty appeal was also waived after Ashraf Mugume looked to have handled the ball in area.
Substitute Brian Omirambe almost wrote his name on the scoresheet but headed Media’s cross over the bar.
And the best opportunity presented itself in added time when Ochan punched kept out an effort just in front of his goal mouth, but Richard Matovu fired just over the bar!
As KCCA celebrated wildly for that missed shot, Arua Hill coach Livingston Mbabazi knelt down in disbelief.
Mbabazi will feel his side should have left Lugogo with a point, but it’s a slow start to blame and that goes to rustiness given it was the team’s first game in the Second round.
For KCCA, their next league assignment is against holders Vipers, and with recent form, the addition of Mustafa Kizza who got a league debut against Arua Hill, who knows…
Teams Used
KCCA – Derrick Ochan, Mustafa Mujuzi, Geoffrey Wasswa, Filbert Obenchan, Brian Majwega, Moses Waiswa, Emmanuel Wasswa, Allan Okello, Simon Kankonde, Shaban Muhammad, Rogers Mato
Arua Hill – Richard Anyama, Richard Matovu, Bright Vuni, Isaac Okello, Geriga Atendele, Gibson Adinho, Gaddafi Gadinho, Gaddafi Wahab, Rashid Kawawa, Isaac Ogwang, Innocent Media
