Uganda needed extra time to eliminate Ethiopia from the Cecafa Senior Women’s Championship on Thursday at FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru in a semi-finals contest.
The match ended goalless under regulation time, setting the Crested Cranes and Ethiopia for extra time to determine who would progress to the finals.
George Lutalo’s charges seemed dominant in the opening 15 minutes of the game. Sandra Nabweteme saw her flying shot bounce off the woodwork as she came close to open the scoring.
In the 35th minute, Lutalo was forced to bring on Lukiya Namubiru for injured defender Aisha Nantongo. But the deadlock was far from over, the teams going into recess with no goals.
Close to the hour mark, Lutalo made two changes to try and shake things up introducing forward Lilian Mutuzo and midifielder Phiona Nabbumba in place of Shamirah Nalugya and Margaret Kunihira. But affairs would remain level until the final minute of the game.
The first fifteen minutes of extra time ended fruitless, but Uganda seemed determined to progress forcing multiple saves from the Ethiopian custodian.
In the second stanza of extra time, in form striker Fazila Ikwaput broke the deadlock in 115th to send the Crested Cranes to the final.
Uganda’s Starting XI:
Daisy Nakaziro (GK), Sumaya Komuntale, Aisha Nantongo, Margret Namirumu, Asia Nakibuuka, Joan Nabirye, Hasifah Nassuna (C), Shamirah Nalugya, Sandra Nabweteme, Margret Kunihira, Fazila Ikwaput.
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