Ten-man Express crucify Masaba's BUL

Express players celebrate Boban zirintusa's goal(courtesy/Express)

UPL Ten-man Express crucify Masaba's BUL

Fred Mwambu • 16:03 - 08.04.2023

The loss stretched BUL's winless run in the Uganda Premier League to seven games as Express grabbed their second win on the trot after going eleven games without a victory.

BUL set a divine atmosphere before their Startimes Uganda Premier League match against Express with Judith Babibrye's Beera Nange tune but that was not enough intervention as they went down 2-1 in Njeru.

The loss stretched BUL's winless run in the league to seven games as the Red Eagles grabbed their second win on the trot after going eleven games without a victory.

Richard Wandyaka and Allan Kayiwa almost found the back of the net inside the opening five minutes but their powerful low drivers skewed wide.

Kayiwa kept pushing the Red Eagles and was successful in the 10th minute. Anwar Ntege piled pressure on Aggrey Madoi who failed to deal with an easy aerial delivery to head it out for a corner.

Kayiwa picked Boban Zirintusa with a well-weighted kick which the latter confidently sneaked through the crowded box to brush in.

BUL had their chance to level matters after 23 minutes but Samuel Ssekamatte failed to control Martin Aprem's delivery that had caught the Red Eagles flat-footed.

Instead, it's the opponents who doubled the lead ten minutes later through Ntege who shook off his marker to head Joseph Akandanwaho's free kick.

Things almost went from bad to worse for the edible oil manufacturers a minute later but Pascal Ngoobi survived a red card after a nasty foul on Kayiwa.

Coach Simeone Masaba was forced to withdraw him for a more enterprising Emmanuel Kalyoowa but Express remained in the lead at the break.

BUL, who were struggling with pressure, pushed harder in the second half but Express slowed down their attacks with numerous medical breaks.

The visitors were reduced to ten men at the hour-mark after Ntege was sent to early showers for sticking a nasty elbow on Douglas Muganga's face.

They finally grabbed one in the second minute of added time after goalkeeper Ali Kimera fumbled with Hillary Onek's winner but efforts to scrap at least a point were futile.

The result leaves BUL temporarily on third place with 30 points, ten adrift of SC Villa at the summit as Express break into the top ten with their 25 points.