MATCH REPORT: BUL FC EDGE UPDF IN SEVEN GOAL THRILLER

BUL Football Club edged a seven-goal thriller as they fought hard to beat UPDF FC in a Uganda Premier League cracker at Kyabazinga Stadium on Tuesday.

Brace hero Simon Peter Oketch won the game for BUL when he struck a decisive 79th-minute goal, his second strike of the game at Bugembe, to ensure the Eastern Giants returned to winning ways.

Deogracious Ojok’s two goals and a 21st minute strike from Oketch were countered by UPDF’s  replies from Ramathan Dudu, Ezekiel Katende and Brian Kayanja.

A sub-plot to this thrilling showdown was the tactical battle between coaches –  Arthur Kyesimira and Kefa Kisala, and the latter looked like marching away with a point until Oketch leaped the visitors defense to fire in a shot and win the game.

BUL were awarded a penalty in the third minute when Oketch was tripped in the 18 yards box. Ojok took responsibility from 12 yards and guided his kick from the penalty mark into the net.

Oketch then doubled the Eastern Giants’ goal tally by neatly drilling past Yusuf Waswa through his arms nine minutes to half hour mark.

UPDF FC grew in confidence and started to see more of the ball from that point, recycling it around the host’s goal mouth until they pulled one goal back through a Ramathan Dudu own goal with eleven minutes left to the sound of the halftime whistle.

Substitute Katende struck in the 47th minute as the army side battled back into the game but Ojok restored BUL’s lead one minute to the hour when Oketch did brilliantly on the left to beat his men and play a low ball across the box that found the striker for a tap in.

The painful leveller from the visitors arrived in the 65th minute when Brian Kayanja converted from a spot kick following a foul on a UPDF player in the forbidden area.

However UPDF’s defending didn’t quite match the quality of the host’s attack and the outstanding Oketch was able to register on the score sheet again to turn the game on its head and earn the Eastern Giants their seventh victory of the season. A win that was highly appreciated by the home supporters.

The result now puts BUL FC in 9th position on 24 points from 19 matches, with the next league encounter being against City neighbors – Busoga United on Saturday April 24

Starting XI Vs UPDF FC

Sanoni Mulabi, Peter Onzima, Vitalis Tabu, Ramathan Dudu, Walter Ochora, Kenneth Ssemakula, Godfrey Akol, Fredson Gwoto, Deogracious Ojok, Simon Peter Oketch, Robert Mukongotya

Substitutes

Abdul Kimera, Jimmy Kulaba, Fredrick Kigozi, Ibrahim Mugulusi, Musa Esenu, Martin Aprem, Richard Wandyaka