On Sunday, hard fighting Lugazi FC was defeated 1-0 by Maroons in a Uganda premier league encounter at a rain soaked Luzira Prisons Ground.

The Leaders put up a standout performance under the chilly conditions in Luzira but fell to a penalty in the last minutes to lose for the third time in four games played.

Sadick Sempigi’s men were forced to complete the game a man less after Gift Lubega Muhammed was sent off following a handball in the forbidden area with two minutes left on the clock.

Substitute Brian Junior Omirambe converted the resultant kick from the penalty mark to win it all for the hosts.

The result meant we stayed at the bottom of the table with one point.

Although it was a defeat, there were plenty of positives in there for the Leaders who had decent early chances. Bashamu Mugwa’s promising free kick wheeled wide from thirty yards before Simon Tamale in Maroon’s goal denied Sam Ssemugugu.

On 25 minutes, Juma Mutebi was called into action – lowering his legs to brilliantly save a snapshot with his knees at the right post to keep the scores 0-0. Just three minutes off the half hour mark, Mutebi was made busy again by Felix Okot but the net minder remained unbeatable.

Lugazi FC should have had a goal just two minutes into the second half when Sharif Saaka went through on goal and with a goalkeeper to beat, Saaka was impeded by a pool of water in the goal area that made the ball hard to move.

At this moment, we were pressing for a breakthrough but couldn’t find the target. Mugwa, Ssemugugu, Richard Ayiko all came close to scoring but the ball just would not go in.

Following a corner situation in the 88th minute, Lubega cleared his lines but the referee adjudged the roving fullback did so with his hand, and sent him off for a second bookable offense having been cautioned with a yellow card moments before.

 Maroons then took the lead from the spot which they held on until the fulltime whistle.

Our next game is against Mbale Heroes after the international break.

Starting XI:

Juma Mutebi (GK), Richard Ayiko, Emmanuel Obua, Ali Bayo, Derrick Mwanje, Bashamu Mugwa, Nelson Mandela, Sharif Saaka, Paul Wasswa, Sam Ssemugugu, Gift Lubega Muhammed.

Substitutes:

Fahad Emuran, Moses Buga, George William Oluka, Abdul Kalanzi, Ian Amanya, Rogers Adriko, Alvin Birungi, Freedom Mungudit, Akiram Massa.