Saturday, June 8, 2013

Angola 1 - Senegal 1; Uganda 1 - Liberia 0

Kampala and its crowd support awaited Uganda and the visit of Liberia.  Uganda had a quick lead inside of five minutes.  An Emmanuel Okwi through ball led to a tap-in finish for Tonny Mawejee and a 1-0 lead to the hosts.  Patrick Wleh proved a menace to Uganda with his presence in attack, but Uganda managed to keep him off the scoresheet. Overall, Uganda were the brighter side in the first half, and they took their 1-0 lead with them into the break.

Uganda controlled the match with sturdy defending throughout.  Wleh nearly found a goal for Liberia in the final ten minutes, but Liberia goalkeeper Robert Odongkara made the save.  Uganda hold on and win 1-0.

Luanda and hosts Angola welcomed group leaders Senegal into town.  Angola really should have taken the first goal, but Pirolito missed an open header at the back post off a corner kick from Djalma.  Senegal made the Angolans pay midway through the first half.  Papiss Cisse rose above flat-footed Angola centerback Dani Massunguna to nod home a cross for a 1-0 lead.  Sadio Mane was also dangerous in attack for Senegal, but it would be Angola who would look better for the rest of the half.  Senegal were grateful for the respite of haltime, and they had a 1-0 lead.

Angola righted the ship quickly in the second half.  Yano made a spectacular trap and back heel with a man on his back to spring an attack down the flank, and the resulting cross was powerfully headed for the equalizer from seven yards by Afonso Guilherme.  Senegal could have stolen the full three points on a counterattack later in the half.  Senegal had a two-versus-two break, and the header was won by Senegal, leaving a bouncing ball for a Cisse volley attempt from six yards.  However, Cisse could not keep the blast down and sent the ball into the stratosphere.  Senegal nearly scored late on from a header inside the six-yard box, but Angola goalkeeper Landu dropped quickly to his right to deny the goal, and the rebound was headed wide of goal.  Guilherme nearly won it for Angola at the end of regulation, but the cross was too fast and too far behind him for his header to be redirected into the vacated net.

Senegal 6 pts +2
Uganda 5 pts -1
Angola 4 pts 0
Liberia 4 pts -1

Goals
Uganda
Tonny Mawejee 4

Senegal
Papiss Cisse 23

Angola
Afonso Guilherme 51

Match Reports:
http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/643731-wc-qualifier-uganda-1-liberia-0.html
http://www.kawowo.com/index.php/football/item/15444-player-ratings-uganda-vs-liberia.html
http://www.liberiansoccer.com/Four_Takeaways_from_Liberias_1-0_loss_to_Uganda2019181171161514113121121.htm
http://www.supersport.com/football/angola/news/130608/Angola_Senegal_keep_Group_J_tense

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDCyD94qlRo (Uganda v. Liberia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpEx0sXnoHM (Angola v. Senegal)

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