Uganda 1-0 Ethiopia
Uganda Cranes became the first side to qualify for the quarter finals of the Cecafa Tusker Challenge Cup 2012 after beating hard fighting Ethiopia 1-0 in an entertaining match played at Mandela National Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Brian Umony scored the only goal of the game in the 9th minute to send the few watching home fans into rapture. The striker tapped in Emmanuel Okwi’s neat by line pass after some good exchanges with Moses Oloya.
The goal was Brian Umony’s first in national colours since March 2009 when he scored against Malawi in an international friendly played at Namboole. The Cranes won that game 2-1 with Patrick Ochan scoring the other. Umony should have added the second in the 24th minute but failed to put away a low cross from Joseph Ochaya.
In the 26th minute, Ethiopia were saved twice by the wood work after Brian Umony and later Geoffrey Kizito’s free headers hit the bar from Moses Oloya’s corner.
Ethiopia however latter settled in the game and gave Uganda a hard game with Hamza Muwonge making a good save in the 30th minute from Gilima Bekele free kick on the edge of the 18 yard box. Despite attacks from Ethiopia in the closing stages of the game, the Cranes held on to finish the half on top.
After recess, the Antelopes started from where they had left off but Cranes still stood tall. The Cranes even survived a penalty scare in the 53rd minute when Henry Kalungi appeared to have fouled Filkru Lemesse but the referee waved play on.
In the 64th minute, Hamza Muwonge came to Uganda’s rescue with a finger tip save after a close range header from Fikul after a dangerous cross from the right.
Uganda’s Coach Bobby Williamson introduced Brian Majwega for Joseph Ochaya and later Hamis Kiiza for goal scorer Brian Umony who had a poor display in the second half of the game. Robert Ssentongo also later came on for Emmanuel Okwi in order to energise the attack but Ethiopia resisted letting in a second as they continued to take the game to Uganda.
At the end of the game, Umony’s solitary strike was the difference giving Cranes their second victory of the tournament after the win over Kenya.
The win lifts Uganda back on top of group A on six points leapfrogging Kenya which beat South Sudan 2-0 in the earlier game played. Uganda will play South Sudan in their last group match while Ethiopia will take on Kenya in what is expected to be a cracker. Click here to view upcoming fixtures and previous results
