Cranes Masterclass: Uganda beat Guinea Bissau 2-0 to edge closer to Orange 2012 CAN

Goal scorer Massa (left) is joined by teammates Obua, Mudde and Mwesigwa. Uganda won the match 2-0. PHOTOS: EDDIE CHICCO

By Andrew Mwanguhya

Posted Sunday, June 5 2011 at 00:00

IN SUMMARY

Nations Cup Qualifier
Group J result
Uganda 2- 0 Guinea Bissau
Today
Angola v Kenya, Luanda

Uganda conducted a free-to-air exhibition of attacking football at Namboole yesterday to convincingly dispatch Guinea Bissau 2-0 in the Orange 2012 Nations Cup qualifier.

Godfrey Walusimbi and Geoffrey Massa goals in either half edged the Cranes closer to the event they last graced in 1978. The atmosphere inside the 40, 000 plus capacity stadium had been set with a bewitching crowd in excess of 50, 000 lifting the roof. Bobby Williamson’s men started brightly with Massa through to goal. But Guinea Bissau defender Bacar Balde cleared out for a corner.

Another attack saw David Obua find Vincent Kayizzi but the winger’s cross could not be buried by Massa from six yards. Moments later, Tonny Mawejje found Obua from a free kick but the Heartsforward’s header went over. Something had to give.

Walusimbi broke away from his marker and in an attempt to find Massa at the far post, his swinging cross from the left beat Bissau keeper Jonas Mendes on 36 minutes for a 1-0 lead.

Cue pandemonium. Bobby punched the air, the players mobbed Walusimbi, and a sea of yellow and white went ecstatic. Second half started in similar mode but Mendes’ brilliant stops from Massa and Kayizzi kept scoreline decent.

But when the fans did the Mexican Wave to Mendes’ direction, play followed it. The ball changed feet in Mawejje and Musa Mudde’s area before Obua released Massa, who rounded Mendes for his first Cranes goal since December 2009.

“We were at home and the onus was on us to attack,” said Bobby, “We played much better but to be fair to Guinea Bissau, they also had their moments but Dennis Onyango was in the way.”

On all four occasions they breached the defence, Onyango was equal to the task. The Ugandan keeper overcame an ankle injury to complete a remarkable 360 minutes without conceding. Guinea Bissau coach Norton de Matos was majestic in defeat. “Uganda controlled the game. We wanted to score the first goal but when Uganda scored, it was hard.”

Mawejje and Mudde in the middle were simply majestic while at the back, skipper of the day Andy Mwesigwa was resolute. Watching from the bench, suspended Ibrahim Sekagya must have been impressed with his replacement Hassan Wasswa.

Nestroy Kizito was the calming effect when Wasswa seemed to rush and Simeon Masaba was the impetus to Kayizzi’s electric runs.

The only low was Obua’s selfish walk of shame to the dressing room after being replaced with Geoffrey Sserunkuma 65 minutes. A draw between Angola and Kenya today will leave Uganda, on 10 points, needing just a point to qualify for Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Player Ratings
D Onyango (8), N Kizito (8), A Mwesigwa (8), H Wasswa (7), S Masaba (7), M Mudde (8), T Mawejje (9), V Kayizzi (7) (J Kabagambe - 6), G Walusimbi (8), D Obua (6) (G Sserunkuma -6), G Massa (7)(R Ssentongo - 5)
Unused subs: A. Dhaira, I. Isinde, O. Kasule, S. Bengo