UPL: Five changes spark Maroons’ fightback as 10-man side sink Ntugasaze

Maroons Head Coach Abdallah Umar got the response he wanted after making five changes to his starting line-up, as the Prison Warders overcame a late scare to beat Ntugasaze 3-1 at Kira Road Police Arena on Wednesday.

The changes proved decisive, with Jackson Nunda grabbing a first-half brace before Marvin Oshaba added a third from the penalty spot to put Maroons firmly in control.

After opening their campaign with a 2-1 defeat to SC Villa, Maroons were keen to put things right and the technical team wasted no time reshaping the side.

Patrick Bayiga, Fredrick Kigozi, Nunda, Barden Mujahid and Brian Nkuubi were handed starting berths, and the fresh faces helped Maroons seize control from the opening whistle.

Nunda broke the deadlock in the 18th minute, finishing off a promising Maroons move before returning to strike again seven minutes before the break.

Ntugasaze had no answer as Maroons went into halftime two goals up. Oshaba then put the game beyond the hosts three minutes after the restart, keeping his nerve from 12 yards to make it 3-0.

Marvin Oshaba in action.

But Ntugasaze refused to disappear quietly. Ronald Kaye pulled one back in the 53rd minute, giving the debutants a glimpse of a possible comeback.

Maroons were dealt another blow four minutes later when captain Edward Kabona was shown a red card, forcing the visitors to play the final 30 minutes with 10 men.

Instead of collapsing, Maroons dug in. They defended their advantage with determination to secure their first points of the season, with Nunda’s two goals earning him the Man of the Match award.

For Ntugasaze, the defeat leaves them still searching for their first top-flight points after suffering a second successive loss following their 1-0 defeat to Blacks Power.

Maroons now turn their attention to another stern test when they host Blacks Power in Wankulukuku, while Ntugasaze will travel to the FUFA Technical Centre to face BUL FC on September 8.

Blacks Power, meanwhile, made it two wins from two under Simon Peter Mugerwa after edging Police 1-0 in Hoima.

Matchday two continues on Thursday, with Kataka hosting BUL at Bukedea Sports Complex before Express face KCCA in the Kampala derby at Hamz Stadium under the floodlights.