NEC put up a remarkable performance to obliterate Ntugasaze as the two teams faced off on Tuesday at the MTN-Omondi Stadium, Lugogo.
The Diehards, who came into this game on the back of the first defeat at the hands of BUL, made sure they bounced back to winning ways in style, dispatching Ntugasaze 5-1.
Coach Badru Kaddu made three changes from the team that started against BUL, with skipper Hannington Ssebwalunyo returning in goal.
Tonny Atukunda got the nod ahead of youngster Enrique Lubwama in midfield while Muhammad Ssenoga Kagawa started in place of Innocent Media.
It was the visitors who made a quick start and took the lead as early as the fourth minute through Jeremy Otim.
However, the lead was short-lived, and NEC levelled matters in the 18th minute with Ibrahim Musa converting from a rebound after Richard Basangwa’s initial effort was saved.
Three minutes before the break, James Jarieko was well stationed to slot home and give NEC a deserved halftime lead when Basangwa teed him up.
After recess, NEC even got better and kept launching attack after attack, especially when the first batch of changes were made with Fahad Bayo, Emmanuel Kulanga and Marvin Oshaba replacing Basangwa, Kagawa and Daniel Shabene a minute after the hour mark.
It took on six minutes for Bayo to get onto the scoresheet, heading home from Musa’s delivery, thus opening his goal account at NEC.
NEC peeled away further with Jarieko getting his second of the day in the 73rd minute before Oshaba, another substitute, put the icing on the cake, scoring two minutes from time.
Victory means NEC remain in third place on 17 points, two behind leaders BUL, who host Entebbe UPPC on Saturday. Ntugasaze, on the other hand, remain in the drop zone in 16th position on three points.
