NEC FC delivered a ruthless early performance to book their place in the Stanbic Uganda Cup quarter-finals, dispatching Lugazi FC 2-0 in a composed display at Lugogo.
The tie was effectively settled inside the opening ten minutes, as NEC struck twice in quick succession to seize full control. Gideon Odongo opened the scoring with a powerful header off a well-delivered corner, before Samuel Ssekamatte calmly finished off a slick move moments later to double the advantage.
With the game tilted heavily in their favour, NEC dictated the tempo for the remainder of the contest. Lugazi struggled to carve out clear chances, while NEC continued to threaten without overcommitting, showing maturity in game management.
After the break, the hosts maintained their grip through smart substitutions and disciplined defending. Despite a few half-chances, including efforts from substitute James Jarieko, the scoreline remained unchanged as NEC prioritized structure and control.
At the back, NEC’s defensive unit once again stood firm, securing another clean sheet and underlining their growing reputation for resilience. The victory extends their impressive unbeaten run and highlights a side building momentum at a crucial stage of the season.
The result marks only the second time NEC have reached the Uganda Cup quarter-finals, a significant milestone that reflects their steady rise. Attention now turns to the upcoming draw, before focus shifts back to league action with a home fixture against URA FC on the horizon.
That was a really impressive win for NEC. Lugazi looked completely out of sorts in the first half.