MATCH REPORT: BUL FC 1-0 SC VILLA

BUL reached the round of 16 of the Stanbic Uganda Cup with a hard-fought win over SC Villa at FUFA Technical Center.

Ronald Otti’s first half goal proved decisive for the Eastern Giants, with the defender heading past the Jogoos goalkeeper Meddie Kibirige following a corner situation from Ibrahim Mugulusi on a sunny Friday.

Meanwhile, for SC Villa, they will count themselves unfortunate having hit the wood work on three occasions.

In the early exchanges, the Jogoos pressed forward with Hassan Musana firing a free kick at Saidi Keni after Ibrahim Kazindula clipped Charles Bbaale.

But at a lively FUFA Technical Center, the Eastern Giants went on the front foot through the right side and came close to breaking the deadlock in the sixth minute before SC Villa cleared their lines.

It was not all over however as Alex Isabirye’s side capitalized on the resultant corner to take the well deserved lead in the next minute.

Mugulusi swung in the ball which the visitors failed to deal with, allowing Otti to leap and head BUL ahead to spark wild celebrations in the packed stands.

The Jogoos came close to almost levelling the matters in the 19th minute when a Musana set piece evaded all BUL players but SC Villa chose to hit the post.

Youngster Reagan Kalyowa drawn a crowd of markers near the edge of the box to set up a sprinting Kazindula whose shot sailed slightly over the bar.

Striker Samuel Ssekamatte robbed Gift Fred of the ball to put himself in a one on one situation with the goal keeper but was undone by the difficult angle in which he was.

Barely two minutes later, the youthful Innocent Rwothomio who was making his first senior start, was unlucky not to have scored when he spun to drill in a ball after combining well with Kalyowa but his effort was deflected out as we went into the break with a 1-0 lead.

The visitors had some threatening moments towards the end, but Said Keni, defenders Walter Ochora, Otti and Douglas Muganga were often on hand to save the Eastern Giants on more than one occasion.

Rogers Kiwanuka missed a glorious opportunity to score for his side when he was found in the area by Bbaale before the latter had a goal disallowed six minutes from time for offside.

BUL’s Richard Wandyaka also thought he had doubled our lead midway the second half with a simple tap in, only for his strike to be cancelled for offside.

SC Villa hit the bar again in the 88th minute and they looked lively in stoppage time, throwing everything at BUL, but 1-0 is how the game finished, sending BUL through to the round of 16.

BUL are next in action next week in the Uganda premier league, with the Eastern Giants travelling to UPDF FC on Tuesday.

Starting XI:

Saidi Keni, Walter Ochora, Ronald Otti, Douglas Muganga,Ibrahim Kazindula, Pascal Ngobi, Ibrahim Mugulusi, Hillary Onek, Reagan Kalyowa, Innocent Rwothomio, Samuel Sekamatte.

Substitutes:

Tom Ikara, Emmanuel Obua, Richard Wandyaka, Martin Aprem, George kasonko, Shafiq Kwikiriza, Richard Okello .