By James Robert Kayindi
Makerere University closed the first round of the University League quarter finals with a 2-1 win against Nkumba University on Sunday evening. Makerere used their home advantage to dominate the game as they kept their good home record in the University League.
Makerere started stronger and brilliant with their new tick-taka style that saw them dominated the first half of the game and scoring their two goals in the same half that crowned them victors on the day. Makerere took the lead through strike Mugerwa Julius (shirt No.11) who hit the back of the net in the 2nd minute of the game to make a record of the earliest goal of the quarter finals in all fixtures played.
At the quarter hour mark of the game, Makerere’s Ebongo Julius missed a good opportunity to double the lead when he hit a low shot that Nkumba’s goalie found so easy to save. Ten minutes later Kawawu Majjidu aka ‘Owen’ missed another great opportunity when he shot wide from a very close range of about ten yards from goal.
Nkumba got their first open chance to equalise at the half hour mark but a rebound from Martin Sseluwajji’s 30-yard free kick was saved by the MUK goalie. Makerere then continued to mount pressure on their guests and the 38th minute saw them double the lead through Lubwama Joshua’s penalty kick when he sent Nkumba’s goalie south and shot north after Ebongo Gerald had been fouled in the box.
A few seconds to recess, Nkumba’s skipper, Brain Okum was sent off the pitch after a second booking when he fouled Makerere’s Mike Mutyaba.
Nkumba returned for the second half with an immediate change that became a turning point of sorts. It was a balanced game in the first 15minutes of the second half. Nkumba’s increasing need for at least a consolation goal saw them dominate the last 30minutes of the game. Their efforts paid off when Roch Somoka hit the back of the net from Martin Sseluwajji’s free kick that the Makerere defence failed to clear away. With barely 10minutes left to play, Martin Sseluwajji almost broke the hearts of Makerere fans when hit the cross bar from a 25-yard free kick.
“The boys have missed so many chances. We would have won the game with a bigger margin and it’s quite disappointing that we conceded especially that we are at home. However am glad that we still managed to win”, Daglus Bamweyana, Makerere head coach told BigEye.ug shortly after the game.
Makerere will be away to Nkumba next Saturday for the second leg to decide who qualifies for the semi-final. Nkumba University who lost to Makerere last season by 2-0 at their own ground need to at least win by 1-0 in the second leg to level the aggregate to a 2-2 score to progress to the semi-finals on an away goals rule.
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