Uganda Premier League |
Kitara 1-0 Express
Kitara maintained their formidable home form after edging Express 1-0 in a tightly contested Uganda Premier League fixture played at Royals Park, Butema on Wednesday.
A second-half strike from Patrick Kaddu proved decisive as the Royals once again turned their backyard into a fortress, delighting the home supporters with another gritty performance.
Express, who made the trip with a depleted squad of just 14 players, showed admirable resilience throughout the contest.
The Red Eagles matched their hosts stride for stride in the opening half, keeping Kitara at bay and ensuring the teams went into the break level.
Conditions at Butema were far from ideal, with the pitch visibly affected by scorching temperatures.
The uneven surface disrupted rhythm and made fluid football difficult for both sides, forcing the game into a physical battle rather than a technical showcase.
The breakthrough arrived in the 56th minute when Kaddu, ever alert inside the box, applied a close-range finish after a clever delivery from Gadafi Wahab to finally separate the two sides.
Kitara pushed for a second goal to kill off the contest, and John Byaruhanga came close ten minutes later, only to squander a clear opportunity following a well-worked team move.
Despite Express’ late attempts to restore parity, Kitara held firm to secure all three points. The result lifts the Royals to sixth place on the table with 26 points from 13 matches, while Express remain 10th, having accumulated 15 points from 14 outings.
