MATCH REPORT: BUL FC 2-1 KITARA FC
Ten men BUL withstood a late Kitara charge to return to winning ways at FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru
A first half brace from Alex Kitata inspired the Eastern Giants to a 2-1 win on a rainy evening, Sunday.
Midfielder Ibrahim Kazindula was sent off midway the second half before Denis Omedi pulled one back in the 80th minute for the visitors, but it wasn’t enough to deny BUL of all three points – a result that consolidates us at the top of the table with 21 points, four better of Vipers SC in second place.
It was a fantastic showing from the Eastern Giants— they were excellent throughout; alert in defense, artistic in the middle and instinctive in the attack.
They started the game on the front foot, creating the first chance of the match just three minutes in.
Jerome Kirya crafted his way through the middle and picked out Lawrence Tezikya whose ferocious low effort from inside the box rattled the foot of the post.
Four minutes later, the Eastern Giants opened the scoring. Nicholas Mwere drove forward, on reaching the edge of the box, he noticed Kitata’s run and placed the ball there that the forward fired home from close range. Chrispus Kusiima in Kitara’s goal had no chance on the shot – it went up rising and hit the roof of the net.
In a blink of an eye, another chance came BUL’s way.Martin Aprem ignited a counter on the right, wove from his half and left his markers wailing before shooting. The goalkeeper spilled but Kitata was just seconds late as Kusiima sprung up quickly to palm the ball into corner.
His save left him needing medical attention after sustaining an injury in the process and he was thus replaced by Farouk Yawe.
On the 19th minute mark, BUL doubled the advantage through Kitata, again. Mwere ghosted from the left side to the goal mouth and sent a life threatening thunderous shot that the substitute goalkeeper placed in Kitata’s way. The forward made no mistake but to score his sixth goal of the season with untold calm.
After the interval, the game was punctuated and halted by a heavy downpour for almost an hour with just two minutes played in the second half but play finally resumed when it was safe to do so.
BUL remained the better side even after the restart but this time they were unlucky as the various chances that they created were not converted.
The visitors made four changes in response and immediately started to cause some sort of havoc for us.
By the 75th minute, the Eastern Giants were down to ten men after Ibrahim Kazindula was shown a red card for a second bookable offense when he fouled Solomon Okwalinga .
Kitara laid camp in our half as a result. Jude Ssemugabi ran the lines on the left as Denis Omedi tried to force things through the middle but our backline comprising of Benon Tahomera, Walter Ochora and Hillary Onek policed well at most of the times and quelled their intentions.
However, the Royals at last found a breakthrough when Omedi capitalized on a goal melee in our box to pull one back for his side in the 80th minute.
But BUL held on from this point to secure an excellent win despite being a man less.
This was our seventh win this season in eight matches. The next outing will be against Wakiso Giants on 1st December 2023 at Kabaka Kyabagu stadium in Wakiso.
Starting XI:
Tom Ikara, Hillary Onek, Nicholas Mwere, Walter Ochora, Benon Tahomera, Douglas Muganga, Ibrahim Kazindula, Jerome Kirya, Martin Aprem, Lawrence Tezikya, Alex Kitata.
Substitutes:
John Okurut, Gerald Ogweti, Ibrahim Mugulusi, Shafiq Kwikiriza, Edrine Opaala, Mathew Odongo, Samuel Sekamatte, Emmanuel Obua, Vincent Zziwa, Richard Ayiko.