Free Stars held by Azam at home

Akram Muzanyi's late equalizer earned Free Stars FC a vital point against Azam FC at their ground in Mukono in the Regional League on Saturday.

Jordan Tamale had put the visitors in the lead early in the second half to silence the partisan crowd.

Azam striker Simon Peter Elkana was wasteful when he should have nodded home but his headed whistled over the bar.

Muzanyi also missed a chance to go on the scoresheet earlier on after brilliant solo work that drew a wonderful goalkeeping save.

The hosts were often guilty of failing to convert clear-cut chances and Derrick Mbowa was one of the wasters when his effort carried a little too much weight following poor clearance by the Azam defence.

In fact, Free Stars should have gone into the break leading by more than a goal, but will point to lack of sharpness as their undoing.

Half-time ended goalless against the run of play.

Five minutes after restart, Tamale took aim from 20 yards out before letting rip to beat the home goalkeeper and put Azam in front.

But tired legs ensured that the visitors did not build onto that lead and instead offering Free Stars the channel to level matters.

It was never on a silver platter however as the equalizer would only come in the late stages of the game through Muzanyi with a weak left shot.

The home leading goal scorer still had time and the opportunity to wrap up a comeback when he mistimed Jerome Semambo's cross when he should have just tapped home.

Free Stars trail Azam by six points, with Saturday's draw keeping them in seventh place while Azam in third.