Uganda 1 Zimbabwe 1 – Cranes
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As it stands, Uganda are still leading Group A on four points.
Looking
back at tonight’s game, you could quite comfortably say that that was one
crazy, thrilling match.
The statistics won’t paint the best picture for you about how the battle unfolded, but let me share some of them with you anyway.
Overall, Zimbabwe bossed possession, having the ball 55% of the time against Uganda’s 45%. But the Leopards committed more fouls (22) than Uganda (18).
In front of goal, Sunday Marimo Chidzambwa’s men were the busier side, registering 11 shots, with four on target. The Cranes had seven shots, with two on target.
The Cranes have been limited to doing plenty of defending now, courting danger. Can they hold on until half time?
Emmanuel Okwi made it two goals in two games so far with his first half tap-in from close range. Then after huffing and puffing, Zimbabwe’s star man Khama Billiat made his ubiquitous presence count with a well-worked goal, beating his former clubmate at South African side Mamelodi Sundowns, Denis Onyango.
In truth, while profligacy was their eventual undoing, Zimbabwe were the better side from the moment they went a goal down until the break. But The Cranes returned for the second interval more composed and industrious, doing more attacking than the defending they were reduced to for most of the opening half.
Patrick Kaddu had the perfect chance to restore Uganda’s lead, but the KCCA forward squandered one of the best chances of the entire game when he went for the spectacular instead of an easy low strike in front of an open goal. But he wasn’t the only squanderer.
On the other end, Billiat and captain Knowledge Musona wasted close-range opportunities too.
If you are just waking up from that long late afternoon siesta, then allow me to tell that you have missed an entertaining match inside Cairo International Stadium.
The Cranes will be the happier side. Four points in the bag and unbeaten so far. Not shabby at all for Sebastien Desabre’s boys.
