Cromwell’s header in the 58th minute, following a beautifully weighted cross from Joseph Dhata, was enough to secure maximum points against a resilient Gaddafi at the Gaddafi Arena. This victory propelled us into third place, six points behind the leaders, as we leapfrogged Vipers in the standings.
We played to a barren first half, despite long-range efforts from Kayanja and Cromwell, coupled with missed chances from Okocha and Dhata, before finding the only goal of the game 13 minutes after the restart.
Joseph Dhata, with great precision, swung in a cross for Cromwell to head home. The rest of the second half was a matter of game management from the team as we earned the win through a slim margin.
Slim 1-0 win
Coming into this game, all we needed was a win, so we could seize the opportunity to go third on the UPL table, and that, we did!
The first half had several near misses for NEC, including a long-range shot from Kayanja and a powerful attempt from Cromwell, both denied by the resilient Gaddafi goalkeeper. Okocha also missed a golden opportunity to put NEC ahead.
The breakthrough came 13 minutes into the second half when Cromwell skillfully headed home off a precise Joseph Dhata cross, giving NEC the lead. Unfortunately, Cromwell sustained an injury shortly after scoring and was substituted, with Captain Kavuma taking his place.
Gaddafi had their share of opportunities, hitting the bar at one point and being denied an equalizer. Okocha also saw his effort hit the woodwork for what could have been NEC’s second goal of the game. Thembo tested the goalkeeper with a shot, but the save kept Gaddafi in the contest.
Allan Mugalu, who had been a constant threat, was booked and later replaced by Kimwero. Kiberu Tonny came on for Kayanja on the right wing. Despite the intense battle, NEC managed to hold on to their lead and collect maximum points.
A resilient defensive performance, coupled with key saves from our goalkeeper, ensured NEC’s victory in a closely contested match.
Change of Formation:
Coming into this game, we had been accustomed to playing with a back three in the league. However, Mbalangu and his technical team, having tested and achieved positive results with a back four in the Uganda Cup Round of 16, decided to deploy the same formation for the Gaddafi game.
Kiyemba partnered with Kelvin as center-backs, while Odongo retained his left position, and Dhata was deployed as a full right-back, replacing Geriga, who was suspended. Thembo earned his starting role alongside Ssesaazi in the holding midfield positions, while Mugalu was given a starting place just in front of the two. Kayanja was deployed on the right wing, Okocha on the left, and Cromwell centered to complete the attack.
With a compacted defense, coupled with the support of the midfielders, Mbalangu ensured that long aerial balls were well dealt with by the central defensive pair of Kiyemba and Kelvin. Good distribution by both Thembo and Ssesaazi allowed us to move upfront, and the in-form Mugalu Allan remained a significant threat with constant drives through the midfield. Kayanja and Okocha contributed both defensively and offensively, while Cromwell remained a big threat upfront. The 4-3-3 setup enabled quick transitions from attack to defense and vice versa.
What next:
Before the international break, we shall face Maroons F.C on Wednesday, 13 March at the MTN Omondi stadium in a night kick off.
Team News
