Caf Champions League
KCCA FC 2-0 Al Ahly
Mandela National Stadium, Na mboole.
Tuesday, 15-05-2018.
KCCA FC overcome relentless first half pressure to register their maiden victory in the 2018 CAF Champions League.
After losing 1-0 against Township Rollers, the Kasasiro Boys saw Al Ahly miss a first half penalty before scoring one them selves after Saddam Juma had given them the lead via a long range shot in the second half.
As early as the sixth minute, defender Mustapha Kiiza curled a long range free-kick wide of the target to set the crowd ablaze.
Al Ahly’s first chance of the game came on 10 minutes when Marwan Tharwat ran through on goal but goalkeeper Charles Lukwago produced a last ditch tackle outside of his area to deny the forward.
The Red Devils of Egypt got a penalty on 22 minutes when Walid Said Ebeid’s cut back cross was handled in the box by Habib Kavuma.
Ebeid stepped up to take the penalty but was saved by Lukwago and KCCA cleared their lines.
KCCA striker Shaban Muhammad headed wide of the target a Mustapha Kiiza cross on the half hour mark as the Kasasiro Boys started growing in confidence.
The last chance of the first half fell to the visitors but Muhamed Hussein shot wide of the target with Lukwago at his mercy.
KCCA FC coach Mike Mutebi introduced Lawrence Bukenya for Jackson Nunda with a minute played in the second half and the substitution paid big dividends as the Kasasiro Boys gained control of the game.
Al Ahly resorted to counter attacks and six minutes later, it nearly paid off but Tharwat dragged his shot wide after he a teed up by Hussein.
With the introduction of Bukenya giving Saddam Juma the allowance to move forward, the midfielder threaded a through ball for Shaban but the pass was intercepted out for a corner by defender Muhammad Ghareeb.
On 74 minutes, Allan Okello received a lose ball near the Ah Ahly penalty area and he teed up Saddam who unleashed a fierce shot into the top corner to make it 1-0 to the Kasasiro Boys.
Four minutes later, Julius Poloto sent in a cross from the right but substitute Derrick Nsibambi headed over.
With nine minutes to play, the same combination worked but again Nsibambi headed wide of the target.
Al Ahly got a chance to level the game on 85 minutes but substitute Saadelin Samir Ali shot over from 10 yards after he was played in by Hussein.
With two minutes of the 90 to play, Derrick Nsibambi held onto a ball in the Al Ahly penalty area and he was brought down by Ghareeb leaving referee Miguel Gomes with no option but point to the spot.
KCCA captain Timothy Awanyi stepped up and despite the goalkeeper Mohammad Elshenawy going the right way, he could not keep out the defender’s effort as it rattled the net for 2-0.
The win takes KCCA temporality to the top of the group with three points from two games, level with Township Rollers who play Esperance later on Tuesday.
KCCA is away to Esperance in the next game before entertaining the Tunisians on match day four at Namboole.
The KCCA team that started the game:
Charles Lukwago (GK), Dennis Okot, Timothy Awanyi, Habib Kavuma, Mustapha Kiiza, Isaac Kirabira, Ibrahim Saddam Juma, Jackson Nunda, Julius Poloto, Allan Okello, Shaban Muhammad.
