Thursday, March 19
•SC Villa 1-0 Maroons
SC Villa managed to overcome Maroons thanks to a 1-0 win at FUFA Stadium Kadiba in a Stanbic Uganda Cup round of 16 clash on Thursday.
Andrew Otim scored the only goal of the game to send the Jogoos to the quarterfinals.
Maroons had proved a hard nut to crack, and looked like the game could be decided by direct spot kicks.
But Otim, combined with his fellow substitute Charles Lwanga to give Villa a needed breakthrough.
Maroons goalkeeper Simon Tamale will take the blame for the goal, allowing Lwanga’s cross to slip through for Otim to tap in from close range.
But Tamale had a tremendous outing overall, denying Otim on the volley moments later before Najib Yiga sent a rebound an inch wide.
Tamale also produced a brilliant stop to keep out a powerful effort from Elvis Ngonde as SC Villa kept the pressure on.
Maroons also had a fair share of chances, with Marvin Oshaba coming close before Brian Nkuubi’s effort flew just an inch over.
SC Villa goalkeeper David Lukwago also denied Jackson Nunda who had gone for power from a distance.
SC Villa reach the quarterfinals, joining Happy Boys Kagaba, NEC, KCCA, Kitara and Vipers.
SC Villa keep silverware dream alive
By their standards, SC Villa start each season dreaming of winning a title, although that has proved elusive in recent seasons as the glory days seem to have ended.
They have grabbed headlines in the news recently because of the presidential elections, but that storm might have passed after Hajji Omar Mandela retained the seat unopposed.
Such has masked the fact that they have fallen off the ladder in their league title chase, now trailing leaders Vipers by nine points.
And the Uganda Cup presents a more realistic chance for the Jogoos to grab silverware this season.
The Uganda Cup, which they have won a record nine times, has proved elusive since their controversial triumph in 2015 against KCCA in a rescheduled final.
Will this be the year? They have a decent squad that can go all the way, but they might need a favourable draw as it has been in the case in recent round of 32 and 16 with home fixtures.
Players Used
SC Villa – David Lukwago, David Owori, Raymond Barasa, Hassan Mubiru, Aslam Ssemakula, Patrick Jonah Kakande, Missi Diego Ssemugera, Najib Yiga, Frank Ssebuufu, Kato Ssemayange, Geoffrey Lubangakene
Maroons – Simon Tamale, Samson Kigozi, Edward Kabona, Boris Onegi, Norman Odipio, Brian Nkuubi, Derrick Basoga, Abel Eturude, Rogers Kiwanuka, Marvin Oshaba, Jackson Nunda