It was a bitter pill to swallow for BUL Football Club as they suffered a disappointing defeat at the hands of NEC in the semi-final clash of the 2023/24 Stanbic Uganda Cup. Despite their best efforts, BUL fell short, allowing NEC to grab a coveted spot in the semifinals.
The match, held at Lugogo, saw NEC seize control early on, with Joseph Dhata and Cromwell Rwothomio finding the back of the net in the first half. Veteran goalkeeper Benjamin Ochan’s solid performance ensured a clean sheet for the Die Hards, sealing a 2-0 victory and a 3-1 aggregate win over BUL.
In the first leg at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru, the two teams had battled to a 1-1 draw, with goals from Jeromy Kirya for BUL and Dhata for NEC.
At Lugogo, Dhata wasted no time in putting NEC ahead, capitalizing on Emmanul Obua’s error to score in the sixth minute. Rwothomio then doubled the lead for NEC in the 20th minute, effectively sealing their historic qualification for the Uganda Cup final, a first-time achievement for the club.
With their cup aspirations dashed, BUL now pins their hopes on the Uganda Premier League title race. Currently leading the table with 49 points after 26 games, they aim to salvage silverware from the league competition.
Meanwhile, NEC eagerly awaits the outcome of the upcoming match between UPL title contenders Kitara and Regional League side Pajule Lions on Sunday, May 5, 2024.
