Africa-Press – Tanzania. UGANDA Express became the first side to step into the 2021 CECAFA Kagame Cup final courtesy of a sweaty 2-1 victory over KMKM at Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.
The Express will be playing their third Kagame Cup final and the second in Tanzanian soil.
Express lost to El Merreikh in the final held in Sudan in 1994 and they lost again to Simba in the finals held in Dar es Salaam in 1995. This time around, they are looking to shatter the runners-up tag.
A 91st minute spot kick netted by Erick Kambale was enough to send Express into the last two of the competition whose final will be played on Saturday at the giant Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in the city. It was a balanced game which could have gone either way as each side was curious to penetrate and reach in the finals in order to stand a good chance of lifting up the silverware.
However, KMKM were the first team to hit behind the net late in the opening half thanks to a well taken set piece by center-back Ibrahim Hamad.
His strike took a slight deflection before finding its way into the yawning goal beating Express shot-stopper Joel Mutakubwa in the process who was outstretched in an attempt to catch the ball.
As the two sides went to reload their guns, it was KMKM who smiled as they stepped one leg into the promised land ahead of the last 45 minutes.
At restart, the Ugandans came refreshed no wonder they succeed to put level the scoresheet in the 55th minute by Muzamiru Mutyaba who also netted the vital goal via a set-piece just at the edge of the penalty box.
Here is when the climax of the first semifinals game reached making the encounter to unfold in a see-saw affair with hits and misses experienced to either section of the pitch.
After the end of normal 90 minutes of play, only three minutes were added to produce the winner or else take the game into extra time.
But, a foul inside KMKM penalty box in the 91st minute made the referee to award a spot kick to the Express hence scoring the injury time decisive goal and they have one assignment to pass before clinching the trophy.
