In a thrilling match held in Entebbe, Nkumba University overcame a one-goal deficit to defeat St. Lawrence 3-1, significantly boosting their chances of advancing to the quarterfinals of the University Football League.
This victory propelled Nkumba to ten points, securing second place in Group E, while St. Lawrence remained in the top position with 12 points. Gulu and IUEA occupy third and fourth places with four and two points respectively.
The match commenced with St. Lawrence taking an early lead in the third minute through Michael Abura‘s strike.
However, Nkumba’s forward, Mamur Irivinr, demonstrated exceptional attacking prowess, scoring two goals in quick succession in the 32nd and 40th minutes to put Nkumba back on track.
Captain Kennedy Ssewakambo further solidified Nkumba’s dominance by adding a third goal late in the game, securing a decisive 3-1 victory.
Nkumba’s goalkeeper, John Obwana, played a pivotal role in their triumph, making several crucial saves to keep his team in contention.
The defensive line, led by Joel Nsubuga, Henry Mukasa, and Lukman Kalule, also stood firm, contributing significantly to Nkumba’s success.
St. Lawrence’s inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities in the final third proved to be their undoing, leading to their first defeat of the season.
Nkumba’s assistant coach, Emmanuel Wasswa, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, emphasizing the importance of this victory in their quest for a quarterfinal berth.
“These three points will propel Nkumba forward. We are now poised to qualify from the group stage. Our goalkeeper was outstanding, and the defense was up to the task. Overall, the entire team played exceptionally well,” Wasswa remarked.
In contrast, St. Lawrence’s coach, Davis Nnono, acknowledged their shortcomings, attributing their defeat to a lack of control over the game.
“We were unlucky. Our opponents were well-prepared and played better today. It’s a good time to lose as there’s still room to rectify mistakes.”
“We only need one point to secure our position as group leaders, and I’m confident we’ll achieve it in our final home game. This is a wake-up call for the boys, who have been playing too comfortably. We’ll use this experience to improve,” Nnono stated.
St. Lawrence will face IUEA in their final group stage match, while Nkumba will travel to face Gulu.
Courtesy Photos
