NEC Football Club left it late but walked away with all three points after a dramatic finish against Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) in a tense Uganda Premier League clash under the Lugogo floodlights.
With the contest seemingly headed for a stalemate, the decisive moment arrived in the dying seconds. Substitute James Jarieko drew a foul inside the area, handing NEC a lifeline. Up stepped goalkeeper Hannington Ssebwalunyo, who kept his nerve to calmly convert from the spot and seal a 1-0 victory.
For much of the evening, NEC dictated proceedings but struggled to translate their dominance into goals. They pressed early, forcing a series of set pieces in the opening minutes, though their delivery lacked the cutting edge to trouble URA’s defense.
Samuel Kayongo Ssekamatte, one of NEC’s bright sparks, came close on multiple occasions with long-range efforts and set pieces, but URA goalkeeper Muhamad Ssekebba remained alert to keep the visitors at bay.
URA, on the other hand, relied on moments of counterattack and nearly stole the lead late on, with Joseph Ssemujju’s header from an Okabo cross going narrowly off target. It proved to be their best chance in an otherwise disciplined defensive display.
As the clock ticked down, both sides made changes in search of a breakthrough, but it was NEC who found the decisive edge when Jarieko was brought down in the box. Ssebwalunyo’s composed finish not only won the match but also crowned a standout personal performance that earned him the man of the match accolade.
The result lifts NEC to fifth place with 37 points from 22 matches, strengthening their push up the table. URA, meanwhile, continue to struggle for consistency, remaining on 22 points after another setback.
