Friday, April 29
•UPDF 3-0 Blacks Power
•Onduparaka 2-2 Arua Hill
•Express 1-1 Wakiso Giants
•Bright Stars 2-2 BUL
Onduparaka snatched a point after Emmanuel Oketch scored at the death against Arua Hill in a four-goal league thriller in a West Nile derby at Greenlight Stadium in Arua.
The Visitors were on course for maximum points before Oketch’s 95th minute leveller kept Onduparaka’s slim survival chances alive.
In an error-strewn match, Arua Hill will feel hard done by the result after twice taking the lead twice in the game.
And the celebrations of home fans at full-time, who earlier created a fan-like carnival atmosphere even halftime, tells the whole story.
The Caterpillars went down early when Rashid Toha headed in Gaddafi Wahab’s freekick in a goal that can be blamed the goalkeeper.
The goal came after goalkeeper Anthony Okello was indecisive to come out of his goal frame as the former Onduparaka captains combined to stab their former pay masters.
Rashid Yakin levelled matters before halftime when he bundled in from close range after Arua Hill had failed to clear from danger.
Onduparaka were on top from thereafter and had some great chances to double the lead including one where Arua Hill goalkeeper Rogers Omedwa finger-tipped Rashid Okocha’s effort from a tight angle.
William Gama thought he had put Onduparaka ahead, but his celebrations were cut short as he was judged to be offside.
The ground was silenced later when another Keeper howler gifted Arua Hill the second, coming out of goal again to miss Wahab’s free kick.
But in added time, Oketch looped over the onrushing keeper but after his effort had rattled the bottom post, the striker followed on to score from point blank range.
It was a lazy goal to give away as Arua Hill defender Toha was in better position to make a clearance when the ball hit the post.
The draw leaves Onduparaka with 14 points, and still closer to relegation as they remain rooted at the bottom with five games to go.
And next on their menu are successive matches against KCCA and Vipers, as the side move nine points adrift of safety!
Players Used
Onduparaka – Mathias Okello, Yakin Rashid, Aziz Mandela, William Gama, Bernard Ndifuna, Rashid Okocha, Alex Adriko, Denis Ojara, Harold Kakooza, Emmanuel Oketch, John Rogers
Arua Hill – Rogers Omedwa, Rashid Toha, Richard Matovu, Isaac Okello, Reagan Mpande, Wahab Gaddafi, Paul Musamali, Gibson Adinho, Isaac Ogwang, Innocent Media, Faizul Ibrahim
