Boxing Day joy for Express, URA but leaders feel pinch

Express striker Odur celebrates the winning goal against Vipers with his teammates infront of the Azam camera. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA 

In Summary

Soccer. League leaders KCCA and champions Vipers failed to garner maximum points from their last three matches.

KAMPALA. KCCA will go into tomorrow’s final first round games with a three-point advantage over Vipers despite failing to pick maximum points for the third game running following Saturday’s 3-2 away defeat at URA in Matugga.
That has been enabled by an even worse sequence by the champions Vipers, who now have one win from six games after going down 2-0 to Express at Wankulukuku.

KCCA coach Sam Simbwa, who has publicly criticised goalkeeper Benjamin Ochan this season put the fault squarely on the goalkeeper.
After match winning saves in the games against SCVU, JMC Hippos and Villa, the custodian did not cover himself in glory as a second half blunder helped URA back into the game.

In what appeared as competition for howler of the season with opposite number Brian Bwete, who similarly gifted Paul Mucurezi, Ochan inexplicably dropped a cross in Robert Ssentongo’s path. The striker obliged, completing his brace and joint league best eight goals to pull his side level again at 2-2 before substitute Frank Kalanda bundled home the winner. Closer scrutiny should however be aimed at KCCA’s entire back-line that had initially failed to cope with the opposition that also included Elukhana Nkugwa and Saudi Kyeyune. Vipers coach Edward Golola should similarly be worried after making five changes to the side that drew 0-0 with Lweza but were downed by an Express team that had previously lost four consecutive games.

First Tony Odur teed up Ibrahim Kayiwa following Vincent Kayizzi’s cross before punishing the backtracking defence with a low drive that goalkeeper Ismail Watenga failed to keep out.
The result lifted Express three places to eighth with 20 points, one behind URA in seventh while Vipers drop to third because of an inferior goal difference to Police.

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