By 
Police FC defeated Wakiso Giants 3-1 in the first leg of their Stanbic Uganda Cup quarterfinal tie on Thursday evening at the Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium, Wakiso to take a big step towards the semifinals of the tournament.
Derrick Kakooza, Yusuf Ssozi and Ben Ocen were on target for the Cops as they garnered a commendable away victory over the Purple Sharks ahead of the second leg next week.
With just five minutes on the clock, Wakiso Giants drew first blood after defender Ruben Kimera’s headed into his own goal to gift the hosts an early lead into the game.
But, their lead didn’t last so long as in the 12th minute, Derrick Kakooza put Police level with a sublime tap-in after a brilliant Yusuf Ssozi’s cross from the right.
Before the equalizer though, Wakiso Giants had a chance to double their advantage but George Kaddu’s header was cleared off the line by skipper Tonny Mawejje.
After the equalizer, the Cops started dominating proceedings, mounting relentless pressures on the Purple Sharks backline and they got their reward in the 26th minute when Ssozi was put through by Joseph Ssentume for a one on one Samson Kirya, dribbling past the former Villa shot-stopper to slot into an empty net for his side’s second of the game.
Vianney Ssekajjugo, who was silent for much of the opening half was then gifted a brilliant chance after Kimera’s missed clearance but the Wakiso Giants topscorer failed to get the ball past Ikara.
Just before the break from the poor Ikara’s catch, the ball fell to substitute Tom Matsiko outside the box but the former Vipers’ midfielder put his effort agonizingly wide with the keeper off his line.
At the hour-mark, Ben Ocen extended the Cop’s lead to two goals when he raced onto a through ball from the midfield to carefully slot past the on-rushing Kirya and into the back of the net.
Although Douglas Bamweyana made a series of changes, there was little reaction from his side and their best chance in the closing minutes fell to Matsiko who fired meters wide.
