Mucureezi’s decisive penalty was the difference, giving us the lead and the three points needed to claim the league’s top spot. The match was highlighted by Hannington Ssebyalunnyo’s heroics, particularly his match-saving penalty stop against Ssenkatuuka.
The MTN Omondi Stadium in Lugogo with a considerable number of spectators, was buzzing with anticipation as NEC FC took on Soltilo Bright Stars FC in a match that would prove to be a decided by small margins; after later failed to take their chances while the former made no mistake. Under the watchful eyes of referee Outeke Daniel Moses Uhuru, we delivered a performance that secured all the three points to assume the league summit.
From the outset, we seemed poised to dominate. The first half was a chess match, with both teams probing for weaknesses. The breakthrough came just before halftime when a penalty was awarded to Bright Stars. With the crowd holding its breath, Nelson Senkatuka stepped up, his eyes fixed on the ball. However, Hannington Ssebwalunyo pushed his cool shot for a corner denying them a glorious chance to take the lead.
The second half saw us maintaining our aggressive stance, not allowing Soltilo Bright Stars much room to maneuver. The strategic substitutions at halftime by Mbalangu paid dividends; Allan Mugalu and Marvin Kavuma brought fresh legs and new energy to the pitch. Their impact was immediate, creating pressure that eventually led to another penalty in the 74th minute. This time, it was Paul Mucureezi, who, calmly but powerfully sent Kamya Shamuran give us the lead.
Our goalkeeper, Hannington Ssebwalunnyo was awarded Man of the Match after his penalty save which denied Bright Stars and henceforth keeping a clean sheet and us getting all the 3 points.
Despite the score line, the match was far from a walkover. Soltilo Bright Stars showed flashes of brilliance, with their defense tightened. However, their efforts were stymied by NEC’s robust defense and the occasional yellow card, including one for Patric Bayiga just before halftime and Allan Mugalu late in the game, which kept the visitors on their toes.
NEC FC controlled 57% of the possession, had more shots, and outmaneuvered our opponents in key areas of the pitch. Our passing was crisp, with an 88% success rate, showcasing a team that was well-drilled.
Our next trip sees us headed to Lugazi FC Stadium as we take on BUL FC in Matchday13 of the StarTimesUPL.