URA turns out wasteful against Orlando Pirates

By James Bakama

CAF Confederations Cup

URA 2 Orlando Pirates 2

A wasteful URA had itself to blame as it was kicked out of the CAF Confederations Cup Saturday.

The tax men were held 2-2 at Namboole for a 4-2 aggregate first round defeat.

The Soweto giants move on to the next round where they will face Power Dynamos.

The Zambian giants secured their passage to the next round with an emphatic 3-0 victory over CF Mounana from Gabon.

Sayid Kyeyune (in yellow) surrounded by Orlando Pirates players. PHOTO/Ssentongo Mpalanyi

Nasser Mugerwa was one of the few URA stars. Playing behind his usual attacking midfield role, he moved upfront in the 36 minute to curl in the opening goal.

The stadium went wild in celebration. With a 2-1 result from the first leg, all that URA now needed was to hold on to this lead to progress. That however didn’t happen.

Moments earlier Patrick Ochan had twice been all alone in scoring positions only to fumble in the ball.

URA could have again stretched the lead if Saidi Kyeyune had been a little more accurate.

The Cranes midfielder was gifted with a through ball. Every Ugandan prepared to celebrate only to be shocked as Kyeyune, with the entire defenc at his mercy, fired out.

But the visitors clawed their way back in the second half with a well-executed dropping header from Mpho Makola.

The visitors then took the lead through an Oupa Manyisa penalty.

Substitute Frank Kalanda saved the hosts the embarrassment of a home and away defeat with an equalizer in the dying minutes.

Mugerwa had earlier seen his would be second goal punched over by goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo.

Mugerwa struck with a volley off a well weighted Simeon Masaba cross. But he found Mhlongo alert.