Soana recovered from a goal down to crash visiting Proline 3-2 on Friday in a thrilling match played at Kavumba Recreational ground as they secured their first Uganda Premier League win at Kavumba in eight months.
In a very lively encounter officiated by Fred Byamukama, Proline went ahead inside five minutes through Nelson Senkatuka’s seventh goal of the campaign. The striker superbly controlled a cross from fullback Simon Namwanja before scoring with his left foot in the 3rd minute.
Both sides threatened from onset, and Allan Kayiwa should have leveled proceedings after chest controlling Baker Lukooya’s cross from the left in the 20th minute, but his brilliant effort side netted.
Kayiwa was at it again with his free header that really got Proline spooked, but Mujib Kasule’s men survived as it hit the side net. It was an effort that not only misled the Soana fans thinking it had yielded fruits, but the first assistant referee too as he appeared to make eye contact with the referee as if confirming the goal.
Soana’s goal arrived in the 34th minute when Lukooya operating from the left sent in a lovely cross to find a disjointed Proline back and Abdullah Nyanzi took advantage to net the equalizer.
However, with five minutes to the end of the first half, Proline regained the lead through Senkatuka. He scored in a manner similar to his first as he netted his eighth goal of the season while sending his side into recess with the lead.
Proline got the second half underway, and right away Fahad Bayo should have made it three but his shot went just over the bar.
Soana then got their first real chance in the second half when Kayiwa after leaving the entire Proline defence for dead set up captain Francis Olaki who only had an empty net face him but the former KCCA forward missed contact with the ball.
It was not until the 74th minute that Soana equalized and they were doing it for the second time in the game. Olaki recieved the ball from Lukooya, sent in a powerful shot to call shot stopper Said Keni into action as the custodian punched the ball, but it didn’t save Proline as Kayiwa scored on the rebound.
Olaki’s header into the roof then clinched the three points for the hosts in the 83rd minute, and for the first time since beating Kirinya-Jinja SSS 1-0 in September last year, Soana triumphed at home.
The result coupled with Express’ 1-0 victory over bitter rivals SC Villa leaves Soana seventh in the league, now with 33 points.
Proline stay eighth 30 points.
