In the USSSA Lubaga zone Qualifiers to Kampala Region, Mengo Anex survived a bitter encounter against Lubiri SS to set up a final with Uganda Martyrs High School Lubaga on Thursday, April 2.
In the double header semifinals played on Tuesday, March 31, Mengo Anex eliminated Lubiri SS 7-6 after a 1-1 draw in normal time, with goalkeeper Cyrus Ssemakula being the difference.
Magician forward Marith Abuyo scored to put Lubiri SS in a 1-0 lead, but right back Twaha Kyeyune equalized a few minutes later to have the game squared at 1-1 at halftime.
The game started with both teams displaying free-flowing football; in the second half, Lubiri SS geared up to force Mengo Anex behind the ball, leaving them with only counter-attacking options.
With Lubiri SS driven by Daniel Malual, Bonny Bazanye, Twaha Busolo, and Abuyo, always ending in Mengo Anex’s penalty area but Mengo goalkeeper Cyrus Ssemakula was always on top of his game for his school’s safety.
Mengo Anex, on their trick, highly talented Ibrahim Mubiru managed to cause issues for Lubiri SS by forcing Emmanuel Losu to get a second booking as Lubiri SS went down to 10 players, hawever few minutes later, Mengo defender Nana Malual also just survived a Lubiri SS claimed sent off offence after pulling Bazanye while attacking Mengo’s goal through the middle.
With the tension growing as the game progressed, fans, including both school students, old boys, and girls, felt the hot seats throughout the dying minutes of the game that ended 1-1.
In the shootouts, Ssemakula took the highlight by scoring his shot and saving two efforts from Daniel Malual and Lubiri SS goalkeeper Didan Kasumba as they took third and eighth spots for Dan Ssegawa Coached Lubiri SS.
Mengo Annex missed the first attempt, with Paul Oginrwoth smashing it over the bar, but Wasswa Godfrey’s coached school overcame the situation, with Cyrus Ssemakula, Nana Malual, Abdul-Bast Dombo, Ibrahim Mubiru, Twaha Kyeyune, and Brian Okello converting their spots.
Marith Abuyo, Vincent Kawuki, Twaha Busolo, and Bonny Bazanye scored from their attempts, but after the seventh attempt, Lubiri SS players got nervous until goalkeeper Didan Kasumba decided to take the eighth attempt, which was a second penalty save for Ssemakula that helped Mengo Annex reach the Zone final.
Meanwhile, in the first Semifinal, Uganda Martyrs’ Lubaga, under coach John Oscar Ssaka, easily passed Mengo SS with a 2-0 win, with defender Hakim Mandela heading in Lucky John’s free kick, advantaged by Ssemakula’s shorter height, while Kennedy Nabusima scored from Davis Niyonzima’s pass.
With Uganda Martyrs’ High School Lubaga, Mengo SS via Annex side, and Lubiri SS qualifying for Kampala Region on Thursday, Mengo SS will take on Uganda Martyrs’ High School Lubaga at Mengo SS starting at 4:00pm.
