CAF Confederation Cup | First Preliminary Round, First Leg
Hoima City Stadium
Kitara have one foot in the next round after fighting back to beat Mogadishu City 2-1 in their CAF Confederation Cup opener on Sunday evening.
The Somali side made the perfect start, going ahead in the 17th minute through Akram Ilyaas, silencing the home crowd early.
Kitara almost hit back straight away when Gaddafi Wahab curled a dangerous cross into the box, but the Mogadishu City goalkeeper got there just in time to beat Patrick Kaddu to the ball.
Frank Zaga Tumwesigye picked up a yellow card just before the half hour mark for a foul on his opponent.
The Royals got their equalizer when the Mogadishu City keeper failed to hold onto the ball, and Jimmy Kalema pounced to slot it into the bottom corner.
Two minutes later, Kalema struck again, rising well to head home Kabon Living’s cross and put Kitara in front.
Wahab was then booked for pulling out the corner flag while celebrating the goal.
Kitara continued to push for a third. Tumwesigye played a lovely through ball for Kabon, who fired just wide before the break. At the other end, keeper Meddie Kibirige did well to tip a dangerous free kick over the bar to keep his side’s lead intact at half time.
Mogadishu City thought they had drawn level early in the second half, but the goal was chalked off for offside.
Kibirige was called into action again soon after, standing tall to make a big save and keep Kitara ahead. Kabon also went close when he pounced on a defensive mix-up, but his effort was blocked, with the rebound eventually cleared.
Kitara’s best chance to extend the lead came from good linkup play between Kalema and Kabon, whose cross found Wahab arriving at the far post but his diving header drifted just wide.
Kitara take a slim advantage into the second leg next Saturday, where a place in the second preliminary round and a mouthwatering tie against Egyptian giants Al Ahly awaits the winner.
