The Cranes bagged their second consecutive win of the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign after edging 10 man Palancas Negras of Angola in a tightly contested match played on Saturday afternoon at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
Nevertheless, the Cranes had to wait for two second half late goals from Emmanuel Okwi and Tony Mawejje to edge the visitors who had lead through Ricardo Estaveao goal.
Kawowo Sports’ Ismael Kiyonga caught the game and rates each Cranes’ player performance on the day.
Robert Odongkara 6.0: The St. George goalie was again preferred in goal ahead of Dhaira in the place of injured Onyango and did okay. You can’t fault him for the goal we conceded.
Denis Guma 6.0: Not the best of displays from the SC Victoria University defender as he allowed Ricardo Estaveao too much space to curl the ball that gave the visitors their only goal. Caught off guard on a number of occasions too.
Godfrey Walusimbi 4.5: The dependable left back had the worst game of his Cranes career. He lost his man on a number of occasions and allowed so many dangerous crosses into the Cranes area. Lucky to be on the winning side.
Andy Mwesigwa 6.0: The skipper didn’t perform so well on the day and at times, it appeared as though the team lacked leadership. However, he intercepted some dangerous balls.
Isaac Isinde 6.0: Like his partner, they allowed too much space for Angola forwards on the ball and it almost cost the Cranes. He nevertheless used his aerial prowess well to cut damage as crosses from both wings ended up in the Cranes area.
Hassan Wasswa 6.0: A quiet day for the KCC FC man as his wall in front of the back four was breached so much. His range of passing was also not the best. It partly explains why Angola dominated the midfield before crumbling late on.
Geoffrey Baba Kizito 5.0: Another quiet outing for the Vietnam based midfielder. It was no surprise that he was pulled off for Martin Mutumba with 20 minutes left on the clock.
Moses Oloya 4.0: He got a nod to start after sitting on the bench against Liberia last weekend but struggled to impress and was eventually withdrawn for Hamis Diego Kiiza a few minutes after the second half kicked off.
Tony Mawejje 8.0: For the second time in a space of seven days, the IBV midfielder again won it for Cranes with a 90th minute winner. He was in the right place at the right time. He was the Cranes’ engine in midfield linking defence and attack. Brilliant display from the man.
Emmanuel Okwi 8.5: If Mawejje was the engine, then Okwi was the driver. Despite only featuring following a late fitness test, the striker created every opportunity the Cranes got on the day including the headed pass for Mawejje’s winner. His lucky goal brought the Cranes back into the game. Man of the match without doubt.
Geoffrey Massa 4.0: Wasted so many opportunities including two one on one with only Angola goalie Hugo Marques to beat. It was no surprise that the Cyprus based man was substituted for Robert Ssentongo with half an hour to go.
SUBSITUTES:
Hamis Kiiza 6.0: The striker came on for Moses Oloya and did well exerting pressure on the Angola defence. No wonder, he is the reason Angola finished with a man less after his shirt was tugged on the edge of the forbidden area.
Robert Ssentongo 6.0: He led the line well when he came on for Massa though struggled against the tall and big Angolans
Martin Mutumba 6.5: The AIK Stockholm midfielder came on for Geoffrey Kizito and made some brilliant passes. He kept possession well when Uganda got on top.
