Friday, September 29
•Gaddafi 1-2 Kitara
•SC Villa 3-0 NEC
•UPDF 0-2 Wakiso Giants
SC Villa secured their first win of the season, defeating newcomers NEC FC 3-0 at Wankulukuku Stadium.
Umar Lutalo opened the scoring, John Paul Acire netted an own goal, and Arnold Odongo headed in the third as Villa dominated the first half.
Despite NEC’s impressive start with victories against Mbarara City and Busoga United without conceding, defensive errors cost the newcomers dearly.
Former Villa goalkeeper Samson Kirya could have done better on Lutalo’s long-range strike.
Acire faced his net while attempting to clear a Patrick Kakande low delivery.
And Kirya also mistimed Ivan Bogere’s freekick, leading to Odong’s header.
Bogere missed three clear-cut chances in the second half, sparing NEC further humiliation. Villa’s Norman Angufidru made crucial saves, while NEC struggled to make an impact from the start.
NEC coach Hussein Mbalangu will surely feel his team could have secured at least a point, despite the final score not accurately reflecting their performance on the field.
Throughout the game, there were several instances that demonstrated their potential to achieve a better outcome, and greatly improved in the second half.
Ibrahim Tembo came agonizingly close to scoring from a free-kick. His powerful strike sailed just inches over the crossbar.
Later in the match, Tembo unleashed a thunderous shot that seemed destined for the back of the net, only to be brilliantly denied by the outstanding Angufidru in Villa’s goal.
Angufidru’s also thwarted Rashid Okocha’s effort, denying NEC’s persistent attempts to break through Villa’s defense.
However, Villa’s victory came at a considerable cost, as they were forced to cope with the unfortunate loss of two key players, Juma Ramathan and Rogers Kiwanuka, both succumbing to injuries during the first half of the match.
What Next – Villa host BUL while NEC will be at home against UPDF on match day four
Players Used
SC Villa – Norman Angufidru, Kenneth Ssemakula, Arnold Odong, Peter Onzima, Elvis Ngonde, Umar Lutalo, Gavin Kizito, Rogers Kiwanuka, Diego Ssemugera, Juma Ramathan
NEC – Samson Kirya, Marvin Kavuma, Kelvin Barni, Ibrahim Tembo, Allan Mugalu, Shamir Kimwero, Joseph Dhata, John Paul Acire, Brian Kayanja, Rashid Okocha, Ronald Ogenga Owiny
