Kampala Capital City Authority City (KCCA) FC overcame Township Rollers 1-0 in the 2018 CAF Champions League Group A match at the Mandela National Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
As a result, Ugandan side KCCA climbed up to third place on the Group A table, while Botswana’s Rollers moved down to fourth place. Both teams are eliminated from the prestigious competition.
The Blues managed to contain the Garbage Collectors in the opening stages of the game, but they were also able to push forward.
KCCA goalkeeper Tom Ikara had to come off his line to gather the ball, before Rollers attacker Joel Mogorosi could pounce a few minutes into the game.
The hosts came close to scoring through Ibrahima Juma, whose effort narrowly missed the target as KCCA looked to open the scoring.
Sadam Juma was working hard in midfield for the Gabarge Collectors, who were seeking revenge having lost 1-0 to Rollers in a Group A clash in Botswana two months ago.
Rollers defender Oscar Ncenga was booked in the 22nd minute as the Garbage Collectors piled pressure on the Blues defence.
However, the Rollers defence, which was marshaled by Botswana national team captain Simisasani Mathumo, looked solid and organised.
The visitors were able to contain KCCA until Gambian referee Bakary Papa Gassama blew the half-time whistle.
The score was 0-0 at half-time following a lively first-half in Kira, which is one of Uganda’s main cities.
Galabgwe Moyana was introduced by Rollers four minutes into the second-half as the visitors looked to break the deadlock.
The visitors launched a quick counter-attack in the 67th minute, but Edwin Moalosi’s through pass was snatched away by Ikara, before Mogorosi could pounce.
The Gabarge Collectors did most of the attacking, but they were very wasteful in front of goal.
Julius Poloto was guilty of missing a sitter in the 79th minute following some good work by Mustafa Kizza.
Kizza delivered a quality cross into the Rollers box which found Poloto, who fired over the crossbar from close range as Rollers survived a scare.
KCCA’s pressure finally paid off when Patrick Kaddu beat Rollers goalkeeper Wagrre Dikago to make it 1-0 to KCCA with six minutes left on the clock.
Rollers pushed for a late equalising goal as they pushed forward in numbers with second-half substitute Lemponye Tshireletso looking to score.
However, KCCA managed to hold on to their slender lead in the latter stages of the game and they secured a 1-0 win over Rollers on the day.
KCCA (0) 1 (Kaddu 84′)
Rollers 0
KCCA: Ikara, Obenchan, Musana, Awany, Kizza, Juma, Poloto, Mutyaba (Alli 66′), Nunda (Kirabira 47′), Kaddu, Okello (Bukenya 77′)
Rollers: Dikago, Ntege, Monyake (Moyana 49′), Ncenga, Mathumo, Ditshupo, Gaolaolwe, Moalosi, Boy, Mogorosi (Lechaena 84′), Sikele (Tshireletso 72′).
