Uganda was held by Kenya in a 1-1 stalemate in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers at St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende on Thursday evening.
Fahad Bayo had to wait till the dying minutes to cancel Micheal Olunga’s strike to ensure both sides pick a point in the East African derby.
Bayo was again to Uganda’s rescue in the third consecutive game. The forward has scored all the three goals sofar scored in the campaign.
Both sides started playing a conservative game and it painted a picture that the encounter would yield a few or no goals.
The first chance in the game came as early as the 23rd minute of the game when Kenya’s captain Micheal Olunga was denied by Charles Lukwago.
Five minutes later, Kenya’s captain Brian Bwire failed to handle Bobosi Byaruhanga’s freekick and Bevis Mugabi failed to find the target on the rebound.
Uganda tried to push for an opener through Moses Waiswa but his through passes were occasionally intercepted by David Ochieng and Abud Omar.
On the return of the second half, Uganda made a double substitution introducing Milton Karisa and Ibrahim Orit for Steven Mukwala and Aziz Kayondo.
Ibrahim Orit made an instant impact with an electric attack past Joseph Okumu but Bwire pushed it away for a corner kick.
Moments later, Harambe Stars gained immense possession and laid continuous crosses to find Olunga but Lukwago stood strong.
In the 62nd minute, Olunga placed the ball into the back of the net to place Kenya in the driving seat.
Uganda replied by bringing on Yunus Sentamu for Moses Waiswa as the hosts looked for a leveller.
In the 70th minute, Allan Okello came on for Bobosi as Uganda kept on pushing for a leveller.
Ten minutes to the end of the game, Martin Kizza came on the field of play replacing defender Timothy Awany.
At the stroke of the game, Bayo utilised his poaching skills and leveled matters capitalising from Bwire’s lack of concentration that led to a howler.
Uganda had a chance to kill the game in the last minute but Martin Kizza hit the ball off the target failing to capitalise from Okello’s cross.
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