Umony helps KCC FC pip SuperSport
Mar 14, 2009
IF SuperSport head-coach Gavin Hunt had no idea who KCC FC star striker Brian Umony is, he now does. In fact, Hunt might need a psychiatrist to overcome the trauma of the nightmarish images the 22-year-old’s match-winning performance could certainly hav
CAF Champions League result
KCC FC 2 SuperSport 1
Return leg, April 4
By Fred Kaweesi
IF SuperSport head-coach Gavin Hunt had no idea who KCC FC star striker Brian Umony is, he now does. In fact, Hunt might need a psychiatrist to overcome the trauma of the nightmarish images the 22-year-old’s match-winning performance could certainly have triggered in the 2-1 CAF Champions League win over SuperSport yesterday.
They said that KCC had no chance. They said they should not even bother turning up for this Champions League fixture. They said SuperSport had 6ft-plus defenders and some had only come to bury the men in yellow.
But KCC defied the odds, their critics and logic as they cruised to a landmark win in the second round first leg of the competition with well-taken goals from Robert Ssentongo and Umony.
“It was not an easy game but we tried to play for each other and it paid off. We have a tough assignment in South Africa but we are capable of scoring more than just a goal there,†Umony stated.
KCC’s victory in front of over 20,000 fans at Nakivubo Stadium did not only represent the club’s most satisfying win ever at the fortress against a heavyweight in over two decades but edged the yellow submarine close to the money-spinning group stages.
All that the league champions and current table leaders have to do is win or craft a draw of any kind to guarantee qualification to the next stages.
It’s a scenario KCC could have made easier had Anthony Bongole’s 25-yard cracker found the target and not the upright or had Ssentongo composed himself to thump home what looked an obvious opportunity to make it 3-1.
For the moment, the Lugogo-based outfit will take yesterday’s result with grace as the visitors too could have left the home side dead and buried but for Benjamin Ochan’s outstanding goalkeeping presence.
SuperSport, fairly in shambles after making the trip to Kampala without their injured captain Ricardo Katza, revealed rough edges right from the start. They conceded two consecutive corners but Ssentongo could only watch his effort saved by Dennis Onyango.
Clearly, SuperSport had approached the fixture with no idea of what to expect. The South African giants opted to start cautiously and wait for that occasional break on the counter as the game progressed.
Hunt’s side must have been pleased with their opponents’ lack of creativity in midfield and preferred aerial approach. In the face of a suspect KCC defence, the visitors often preferred to have three towering attacking players Anthony Laffor, Shane Poggenpoel and Norman Smith at the end of each of their counter-attacks.
Strikers Daine Klate and Smith should have done better under the circumstances after Ronald Kamoga and Sam Mubiru twice gave away possession on two consecutive occasions.
The visitors though didn’t have to wait long and took the lead after Laffor beat KCC custodian Ochan with a bouncing header on 42 minutes.
The score necessitated a knee-jerk reaction though that could only happen after the break. There was an eye for goal, a cunning instinct to deceive on the run and above all, an amalgamation of precision in KCC first goal on 51 minutes.
Umony surged just outside the 18-yard, and cut across his marker Morgan Gould with such dexterity before setting up Ssentongo, who struck with a typical mixture of impudence and elegance to leave Onyango stranded.
Domestic football has of course had great individuals in the game, but there is certainly none more inspirational than Umony.
For the umpteenth time, Umony was in irrepressible mood, causing panic in the visitors’ defence that often withered under the strain of his masterful performance. He changed the tide of the game in an instant with a trademark header on 59 minutes.
His effort after a long ball from custodian Ochan left Onyango and the rest of the SuperSport team torn and tormented. He proved himself a player of such grace and power that he might still make the difference in the return leg.
Umony made many marvel at his performance. Behind him, there was a deadly instinct in the shape of Kamoga, Jeremiah Ssebuyiira, and Bongole despite a series of nervy moments in the final quarter of the game, particularly with the introduction of Glen Salmon. The return fixture will be sterner, but SuperSport should still find problems containing this youthful KCC side.
Ratings:
Ochan 8, Muhindo 6, Senoga 6, Musoke 7, Mubiru 6, Kamoga 7, Ssebuyiira 7, Umony 9, Ssentongo 7, Bongole 7
KCC FC 2 SuperSport 1
Return leg, April 4
By Fred Kaweesi
IF SuperSport head-coach Gavin Hunt had no idea who KCC FC star striker Brian Umony is, he now does. In fact, Hunt might need a psychiatrist to overcome the trauma of the nightmarish images the 22-year-old’s match-winning performance could certainly have triggered in the 2-1 CAF Champions League win over SuperSport yesterday.
They said that KCC had no chance. They said they should not even bother turning up for this Champions League fixture. They said SuperSport had 6ft-plus defenders and some had only come to bury the men in yellow.
But KCC defied the odds, their critics and logic as they cruised to a landmark win in the second round first leg of the competition with well-taken goals from Robert Ssentongo and Umony.
“It was not an easy game but we tried to play for each other and it paid off. We have a tough assignment in South Africa but we are capable of scoring more than just a goal there,†Umony stated.
KCC’s victory in front of over 20,000 fans at Nakivubo Stadium did not only represent the club’s most satisfying win ever at the fortress against a heavyweight in over two decades but edged the yellow submarine close to the money-spinning group stages.
All that the league champions and current table leaders have to do is win or craft a draw of any kind to guarantee qualification to the next stages.
It’s a scenario KCC could have made easier had Anthony Bongole’s 25-yard cracker found the target and not the upright or had Ssentongo composed himself to thump home what looked an obvious opportunity to make it 3-1.
For the moment, the Lugogo-based outfit will take yesterday’s result with grace as the visitors too could have left the home side dead and buried but for Benjamin Ochan’s outstanding goalkeeping presence.
SuperSport, fairly in shambles after making the trip to Kampala without their injured captain Ricardo Katza, revealed rough edges right from the start. They conceded two consecutive corners but Ssentongo could only watch his effort saved by Dennis Onyango.
Clearly, SuperSport had approached the fixture with no idea of what to expect. The South African giants opted to start cautiously and wait for that occasional break on the counter as the game progressed.
Hunt’s side must have been pleased with their opponents’ lack of creativity in midfield and preferred aerial approach. In the face of a suspect KCC defence, the visitors often preferred to have three towering attacking players Anthony Laffor, Shane Poggenpoel and Norman Smith at the end of each of their counter-attacks.
Strikers Daine Klate and Smith should have done better under the circumstances after Ronald Kamoga and Sam Mubiru twice gave away possession on two consecutive occasions.
The visitors though didn’t have to wait long and took the lead after Laffor beat KCC custodian Ochan with a bouncing header on 42 minutes.
The score necessitated a knee-jerk reaction though that could only happen after the break. There was an eye for goal, a cunning instinct to deceive on the run and above all, an amalgamation of precision in KCC first goal on 51 minutes.
Umony surged just outside the 18-yard, and cut across his marker Morgan Gould with such dexterity before setting up Ssentongo, who struck with a typical mixture of impudence and elegance to leave Onyango stranded.
Domestic football has of course had great individuals in the game, but there is certainly none more inspirational than Umony.
For the umpteenth time, Umony was in irrepressible mood, causing panic in the visitors’ defence that often withered under the strain of his masterful performance. He changed the tide of the game in an instant with a trademark header on 59 minutes.
His effort after a long ball from custodian Ochan left Onyango and the rest of the SuperSport team torn and tormented. He proved himself a player of such grace and power that he might still make the difference in the return leg.
Umony made many marvel at his performance. Behind him, there was a deadly instinct in the shape of Kamoga, Jeremiah Ssebuyiira, and Bongole despite a series of nervy moments in the final quarter of the game, particularly with the introduction of Glen Salmon. The return fixture will be sterner, but SuperSport should still find problems containing this youthful KCC side.
Ratings:
Ochan 8, Muhindo 6, Senoga 6, Musoke 7, Mubiru 6, Kamoga 7, Ssebuyiira 7, Umony 9, Ssentongo 7, Bongole 7