Uganda 1-0 Madagascar
Uganda Cranes progressed to the second qualifying round of the 2015 Africa Nations Cup qualifier after beating Madagascar 1-0 in a game played at Mandela National stadium on Saturday May 31.
Geoffrey Massa scored the only goal of the game in the first half to tie the game 2-2 on aggregate but the Cranes advanced due to away goals rule.
Massa opened the deadlock with a fine header in the 12th minute to send the crowd into a frenzy. The Pretoria University striker headed home off a Luwagga Kizito cross who met a neat pass from Moses Oloya.
The Cranes were in ascendency at the moment and came close to netting the second in the 16th minute but Moses Oloya’s cross from the right into the area went begging.
Six minutes later, Aucho Khalid tried his luck from outside the area but his effort was perfectly tamed by Madagascar goalie Rakotonirina Robin.
In the 26th minute, Massa missed an opportunity to extend Cranes lead after failing to guide the ball past Rakotonirina inside the six yard area. The striker received a good pass from the marauding Denis Guma who had a made a good run to meet Oloya’s through ball but couldn’t net.
The Barea got their first opportunity to test Onyango on the half hour mark but Henry Charles Glaydson’s shot was easily collected by Onyango.
Three minutes later, Luwagga Kizito shot wide after dribbling past three defenders. With ten minutes to half time, Onyango’s clearance fell to Baggio but he was quickly taken care of by Isaac Isinde.
Luwagga was at it again in the 40th minute missing from close range after being played through by an off colour Emma Okwi.
The first half whistle blew with the Cranes having a desired and well deserved 1-0 lead.
The Cranes began the second half the better side in search for goals to kill off the game but they could only blame themselves for missing chance after chance.
Massa also almost doubled the lead with a header almost similar to the one he scored but this time Rakotonirina was alert to parry the ball away for a corner in the 51st minute.
With one minute to the half hour mark, Oloya shot just outside the 18 yard area but again Rakotonirina made a good save.
In the 66th minute, Massa set up Luwagga Kizito with a brilliant ball from the right but his half volley hit the defender after the custodian was well beaten.
Then came Massa’s three clear cut chances which were all put to waste. The striker got a clear cut chance in the 74th minute rounding off the goalie thanks to a well laid ball by substitute Hamis Kiiza but took too long to shot with the opposing defenders blocking his shot on the line.
He was again cluprit for missing a good opportunity to kill off the game but his weak chip in the 77th minute was well dealt with by Rakotorinina.
Despite some lapses in the defence especially at centre back, Denis Onyango had less to do apart from collecting crosses.
Micho exhausted all his substitutes with Kiiza coming on for Okwi, Tonny Mawejje for Moses Oloya and later Yunus Sentamu replacing the impressive Luwagga Kizito.
The final whistle meant Uganda won 1-0 and will play the winner between Mauritania and Equatorial Guinea who face off tomorrow (Sunday). Mauritania leads 1-0 from the first leg.
Uganda Cranes Line Up:
Denis Onyango (GK), Denis Iguma, Brian Majwega, Andrew Mwesigwa (Cpt), Isaac Isinde, Geoffrey ‘Baba’ Kizito, Aucho Khalid, Moses Oloya (Tonny Mawejje 80′), Luwagga Kizito (Yunus Sentamu 90′), Emma Okwi (Hamis Kiiza 70′) and Geoffrey Massa.
