KCCA come from behind to eliminate BUL, reach Super 8 last four

FUFA Super 8

Quarterfinal

Return leg results

BUL 1 KCCA 2, agg (2-4)

UPPC 1 NEC 2, agg (2-3)

Police 1 Kitara 0, agg (1-4)

Tuesday

Maroons v SC Villa, agg (1-1)

KCCA FC came from a goal down to beat BUL FC 2-1 in the FUFA Super 8 quarter-final return leg at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo on Friday night and book their place in the semi-finals with a 4-2 aggregate victory.

The Kasasiro Boys had also won the first leg 2-1 at the same venue five days earlier, but BUL gave them a tough test before eventually bowing out of the competition.

The Eastern Giants came into the return leg knowing that a 1-0 victory would be enough to send them through on the away-goals rule. They started the game with purpose and put KCCA under pressure from the opening minutes.

Their efforts were rewarded in the 28th minute when former SC Villa and KCCA midfielder Umar Lutalo opened the scoring.

The goal further boosted BUL’s confidence and they continued to control the game. KCCA struggled to find their rhythm, while BUL defended well and denied their opponents space in dangerous areas.

BUL went into the break with the lead and in control of proceedings, leaving KCCA fans inside the stadium increasingly worried as their team faced the possibility of being eliminated from the tournament.

KCCA coach Brian Ssenyondo reacted during the break by introducing 18-year-old midfielder Brain Jjara for Elvis Ngonde, who had struggled to influence the game in the first half.

Jjara’s introduction brought greater stability to KCCA’s midfield and allowed Yunusu Sibira and Saidi Mayanja more freedom to move forward and support the attack.

In the 65th minute, KCCA drew level when new signing Charles Lwanga who scored in the first leg did it again by finishing off a good move after receiving a well-weighted ball from captain Herbert Achayi.

The equaliser changed the mood at Hamz Stadium as KCCA grew in confidence, while BUL began to lose the control they had enjoyed in the first half.

KCCA took charge of the remaining minutes and continued looking for a second goal.

Their persistence paid off when Sibira produced a long-range effort in the 86th minute that beat the BUL goalkeeper Jeans Brady Wokorach to put KCCA 2-1 ahead.

It was a memorable moment for Sibira, who was making only his second appearance for KCCA after recently joining from Kitara.

The goal effectively ended BUL’s hopes of overturning the first-leg deficit and confirmed KCCA’s place in the last four.

Ssenyondo praised his players for responding to his instructions at halftime but also credited BUL for making life difficult for them.

“Our games with BUL are always decided by a small margin, just like tonight. It was not an easy game, but I am happy that my players listened to what I told them at halftime, came back and put it into action and we managed to win,” Ssenyondo said.

He said BUL had used a different approach from the first leg, adding that their man-to-man marking denied KCCA space and forced his team to make adjustments.

BUL coach Alex Isabirye admitted that his team had not done enough over the two legs but said the tournament had provided valuable lessons.

“We lost to a better team and we will go back and improve such that when the competitive season starts, we are in a better position to compete,” Isabirye said.

KCCA will face Kitara in the semi-finals on Monday at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo. Kitara eliminated Police 4-1 on aggregate on Thursday.

NEC FC also advanced after beating UPPC Entebbe 3-1 on aggregate and will face the winner between Maroons and SC Villa.

Their quarter-final return leg between Villa and Maroons was postponed following the tragic death of Villa captain David Owori on Wednesday.