The Uganda Premier League champion were defeated at home on matchday one after coming off an undefeated 2020/2021 season at home.

Robert Eseru and Rashid Kawawa scored the two goals for the visitors against runs of play as the Red Eagles attacked to get the goals to give them all three points leaving the backline well exposed.

Arua had the first clear chance on goal in the first half but Express keeper Joel Mutakubwa was well placed and the ball bounced off his chest before holding it in his hands.

Express immediately answered with Kambale heading goal wards a cross and Arua Hill keeper Richard Anyama pulled an acrobatic save to save his side.

Express had most of the ball in the second half but it was the visitors who looked more clinical most especially on counterattacks orchestrated by former Red Eagle Alfred Leku.

Arua attacker Robert Eseru had a very good chance to break the deadlock in the 50th minute but Express goalkeeper Mutakubwa reacted with a good reflex to push his low shot out for a corner after the defense was beaten.

Kambale and Senkaaba had successive chances but both failed to hit the target. A few minutes later captain Enock Walusimbi whipped in a very good cross from the right wing but Kambale and Mutyaba both failed to get the most important touch on the ball and it went begging.

Another chance was from a freekick brought in by Muzamiru Mutyaba and Kambale got a back hill on it but there was no body to finish it with the keeper having no chance of saving it.

Arua Hill got the first most important statistic of the game in the 61st minute through Robert Eseru after collecting Alfred Leku’s ball and beat Joel Mutakubwa in our goal to give Arua the lead.

Express was awarded three freekicks near the Arua Hill box but all were not well utilised by Erick Kambale and Kizza. The former took two while the latter took one.

Arua scored the second second through Rashid Kawawa after being set up by substitute Samuel Ssekamatte on a counterattack and beat Mutakubwa from very close range with the defense beaten.

Reactions.

Wasswa Bbosa – Head Coach.

“We have lost but this is a league we are going to go back and prepare. We have had many chances which could have helped us win the game but we didn’t use them yet the opponents used theirs. We are going back to prepare then win games.”

Enock Walusimbi – Captain.

“This is our first game and it’s a loss, we played as the coach wanted but we failed to concentrate in defense, we failed to score our goals despite having many chances which shows we didn’t concentrate. This is a league we shall come back stronger and win the next games.”

The Red Eagles will be back in action on Saturday 23rd October against UPDF FC away in Bombo.

Express Starting Eleven: Joel Mutakubwa, Enock Walusimbi (C), Murushid Juuko, Issa Lumu (Raymond Walugembe 66′), Joseph Akandwanaho, Nicholas Kasozi (John Byamukama 85′), Muzamiru Mutyaba (Ivan Mayanja 60′), Martin Kizza, George Senkaaba, Erick Kambale.

Unused Substitutes: Denis Otim, Abel Etrude, Denis Mubuya, Sadiq Ssekyembe.

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