Tie alive despite 10-man Kitara’s losing continental debut

CAF Confederation Cup Preliminary Round

First Leg result

Kitara 2-3 Al Hilal Benghazi

Ugandan CAF Confederation Cup representatives, Kitara, go into their return leg against Al Hilal Benghazi with optimism after narrowly losing to the Libyan side 3-2 on their continental debut on Friday night.

The Royals, who won the Uganda Cup to qualify for the continent, finished the game with 10 men after goalkeeper Crispus Kusiima was sent off on 50 minutes for handling outside the penalty box.

Substitute Brian Aheebwa and talisman Denis Omedi scored Kitara’s goals in the second half but it was the naive start that cost them at the Martyrs of Benina stadium.

Hosting their home game in Libya after Namboole and Kitende closed doors to them citing varying reasons, Kitara conceded inside two minutes to compatriot Muhammad Shaban, who headed home a free kick.

Talha Rizik doubled the lead for the Libyans in the 20th minute for a 2-0 half time advantage.

Kitara’s fortunes turned worse after the half time break as Kusiima was sent off for handling outside the area as he tried to thwart Shaban.

They did, however, get some hope when Aheebwa, who replaced Marvin Nyanzi in the first half, halved the deficit with a beautiful volley on 62 minutes.

But the visitors restored their two goal cushion moments later through captain Elbadry.

The tie, however,  remains alive ahead of the return leg in a week’s time, thanks to Kitara main man, Omedi’s composed in the 82nd minute as the match 3-2 in favour of Al Hilal.