The Red Eagles played out a goalless draw with visitor Ndejje University FC at Wankulukuku in their last game of the first round.

The game started slow and Express were the better side as many would expect.

The Red Eagles got the first chance of the game after some nice play by Tony Odur to set up Kayiwa in the 15th minute but the latter failed to get enough of the ball and it went wide.

In the 20th minute the Red Eagles got another chance through Michael Birungi after a ball crossed by Disan Galiwango was tipped by the keeper and fell to Michael Birungi but his shot went over the bar.

Kayiwa got another chance in the 35th minute but his well struck back heel was straight to the keeper after some skillful play by Mbidde the set him up.

The first half ended in a draw with Express way the better side but just couldn’t get that much needed cutting edge. Ndejje University barely got a chance at goal and Mutebi in the Express goal was not troubled at all.

The second half started and the Red Eagles piled more pressure. Kayiwa was the first to get a chance after nicely rounding off his man but his shot went wide again.

Mubaraka got another chance after he was well played in by Disan Galiwango who made the left wing his own but the ball went wide. We made our first change in the 63rd minute as debutant Charles Lubega went off and was replaced by Joel Male sending Pius Mbidde to right back.

Michael Birungi intercepted a ball in the middle of the pitch after Ndejje played a square pass and instead of releasing Odur he decided to take matters in his own hands and put the ball well wide.

In the 70th minute Express made another change, John Revita who was injured was replaced by Shafiq Kakeeto, a like for like change.

Ndejje got a rare chance in the 74th minute after playing a nice counterattack but Mutebi was well positioned and saved. His first of the game.

Mubaraka Nsubuga dribbled past the Ndejje University midfield in the 79th minute but his left footed shot went well over the bar.

Express got two quick fire chances one falling to Odur after Ndejje poorly cleared a corner but the ball went wide.
Mutanga connected well with Disan’s corner but the keeper got down well and saved when many thought it had gone in or was saved after it had crossed the line but the officials did not give a goal.

Ndejje got two big chances on the counter in the dying minutes of the game but Mutebi was able to save both as the Red Eagles pushed for a winner. Huge let off it was for majority of the fans.

The final chance of the game fell to Michael Birungi in the 90th minute after a nice through ball by Odur but his well struck shot hit the lower post and was cleared by Ndejje. Surely it should have been the winner.

A point ensured that the Red Eagles finished the first round with 21 points out of 15 games while Ndejje finished with nine in 15 games and got their first away point.

What next for the Red Eagles?

The Red Eagles will be back in action on Thursday 17th October against Big League side Water FC in the Uganda Cup Round of 32.

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