The Red cruised to a comfortable 3-1 win against Bright Stars at Wankulukuku.

Express head coach George Ssimwogerere made 8 changes from the team that played against Bright Stars on Sunday in the Stanbic Uganda Cup semifinal first leg at Mwererwe leaving only captain John Revita, goalkeeper Mathias Muwanga and midfielder Pius Mbidde.

He handed first starts to Ivan Ocholit, Hamis Batega and Sadiq Ssekyembe. The latter went on to assist all the three goals we scored in the match.

Ibrahim Kayiwa opened the scoring with just a minute gone. Sadiq Ssekyembe crossed a nice ball from the left and he headed it in goal to give us an early lead.

The goal disorganized Bright Stars and forced them into an early substitution. With less than 10 minutes played diminutive attacker Methodius Jungu had started warming up. On the 12th minute mark he replaced Innocent Assiimwe.

Jungu made an immediate impact forcing a save from our goalkeeper Mathias Muwanga who pushed it out for a corner which was brought in and the keeper saved again.

Bright Stars’ Fred Ssegujja had another chance from a header but it went well wide.

The first booking of the evening went to Bright Stars’ Enok Walusimbi for a pull on Express striker Ivan Ocholit who was running goal wards.

Ivan Ocholit was put thru on goal again in the 31st minute and he delayed to take his shot leading to the defender intercepting his shot and the ball went out for a corner.

Express scored their second goal from the resulting corner brought in by Sadiq Ssekyembe. Ocholit was well positioned and headed it in goal scoring his first goal for Express and earning Ssekyembe his second assist of the day.

Kayiwa released a nice ball to Odur in the 42nd minute and the striker was thru on goal. He appeared as if he was pulled from behind and went down but the ref waved play on and another opportunity was missed.

Bright Stars had a chance in added minutes of the first half but our goalkeeper Mathias Muwanga was equal to the challenge and gathered the header well.
The halftime whistle was blown when Express are having a comfortable 2-0 lead.

Express made their first change of the evening at the start of the second have Billy Nkata replacing second goal scorer Ivan Ocholit.

Nkata was brought down with only two minutes played and Express were awarded a free kick. Sadiq Ssekyembe stood behind the ball and delivered a very nice ball and Tony Odur headed it in goal to give us the third goal. That was Ssekyembe’s third assist of the day.

Bright Stars had two penalty shouts in the second half from a hand ball and when their captain Nelson Senkatuka appeared to have been knocked down but the ref waved play on.

Bright Stars pulled one back after a cross from the left ricocheted off Batega’s leg and found the net with 71 minutes gone.

Express made a second change replacing Pius Mbidde who looked a little jaded with Davis Mayanja.

Bright Stars tried to gain momentum after their goal but the Red Eagles defended well and kept them at bay. They had a good shot on goal but was saved by Muwanga and went out for a corner. The resultant corner was well defended by the Red Eagles.

Express made the final change in the 90th minute replacing Joel Male with Michael Birungi.

The attacker nearly got his name on the scoresheet after twisting and turning to beat his marker and created space. His nice shot hit the bottom of the far post with the keeper well beaten and it went out.

The ref blew the final whistle with the Red Eagles leading 3-1 winning their last home game in the league.

What next for the Red Eagles?

We shall be visiting Arua side Onduparaka on Saturday 4th May at the Greenlight Stadium in Arua before the Stanbic Uganda Cup semifinal second leg agisnt Bright Stars again on Thursday 9th February at Wankulukuku.

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