Fourteen goals were scored on match day six, with KCCA and Onduparaka contributing five in the sides respective victories on Saturday.
With Express having edged Vipers 1-0 a day earlier, and title challengers SC Villa not in action, the onus was on leaders KCCA to consolidate their stranglehold on the Azam Uganda Premier League (UPL) table.
Ssentongo double
And they did it emphatically, the defending champions seeing off Bul 3-1 away in Jinja with Robert Ssentogo scoring twice on his first start since his return to the club this week. Muzamir Mutyaba netted the third while Milton Kaliisa got the hosts consolation.
The victory, KCCA’s fifth in six matches, sees them open up a four-point lead on second-placed SC Villa, who have played one game fewer. KCCA stand on 15 points.
Ssentogo’s exploits came at the expense of Geoffrey Sserunkuma, who had started all the club’s games this season.
Mike Mutebi, the KCCA manager, also dropped Vincent Kayizzi to the bench to accommodate Paul Mucureezi further ahead, with Isaac Kirabira joining Ivan Ntege and Mutyaba in the middle.
All KCCA goals came in the opening half, Ssentongo netting on 15 and 21 minutes before Mutyaba made it 3-0. Kaliisa’s strike for Bul five minutes from time could only count for a consolation.
Inspirational Shaban
There were also wins for Onduparaka, Lweza and the Saints as all sides picked up their second victories of the campaign.
Onduparaka skipper and marksman Shaban Mohammad shot himself top of the scoring charts with three goals when he scored the winner in the 2-1 victory over Police on 19 minutes.
Police had taken a six-minute surprise lead at the fiery Greenlight Stadium in Arua when Ben Ocen silenced the home crowd but Living Kabeon leveled on 15 minutes before Mohammad ensured of all three points.
The victory has Onduparaka seventh with nine points while Police are a place above relegation with just five points.
In Bombo, Moses Mulambula scored eight minutes from time to hand the Saints all three points in the 1-0 victory over Kirinya-Jinja, a result that has coach Moses Basena’s victors 10th with seven points.
Hassan Kikoyo and Farouk Ssentongo goals in either half also handed Lweza a 2-1 victory over JMC Hippos at Wankulukuku, with Vianney Ssekajuko getting the victims’ consolation.
URA troubles
For coach Kefa Kisala’s URA, it was more questions than answers as the tax collectors failed to pick maximum points from the second successive match.
Actually, they had to dig deep for a point, Shafiq Kagimu cancelling Gift Ali’s first half strike on 79 minutes as winless Proline drew their fifth in six matches.
The 1-1 draw, also URA’s fifth in six matches, has the taxmen’s title credentials in tatters. They are eighth with as many points, with Proline two places below on five.
UPL RESULTS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
Vipers 0-1 Express
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Bul 1 – 3 KCCA
Lweza 2 – 1 JMC Hippos
Onduparaka 2 – 1 Police
Proline 1 – 1 URA
Soana 0 – 0 Bright Stars
The Saints 1 – 0 Kirinya-Jinja
NEXT MATCHES
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2016
Kirinya-Jinja vs Bul (Live on Azam TV @ 4pm in Bugembe Stadium, Jinja)
SC Villa vs Soana – M. N. Stadium, Namboole
URA vs Sadolin Paints – Mehta Stadium, Lugazi
KCCA vs Express – P. Omondi Stadium, Lugogo
Police vs The Saints– Kavumba R. Grounds
JMC Hippos vs Proline– Kakindu Stadium, Jinja
Lweza vs Vipers– Wankulukuku Stadium