Spot On Wadri Kicks Bandari Into SportPesa Cup Semi Finals

DAR-ES-SAALAM, Tanzania- William Wadri was the hero as Kenya went one up in the 2019 SportPesa Cup when Bandari FC knocked out home side Singida United FC with a 1-0 victory at the Main Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam on Tuesday afternoon.

On a sweltering day, Ugandan Wadri showed the coolness to dispatch his penalty the wrong side of the Singida keeper Said Lubawa in the 68th minute to settle what was a largely cagey contest as both teams fought to avoid making mistakes.

Victory for the tournament debutants from the coastal town of Mombasa crowned the official opening of the much-anticipated third edition of East Africa’s biggest football spectacle that returns.

Bandari started the game well, applying pressure on the hosts and looked to be through on goal in the opening minute of the game but Darius Msagha was caught offside. 

Head coach Bernard Mwalala opted to start with seasoned Wycliffe Ochomo up front and the striker got the first real sight of the Singida goal in the sixth, but his shot went inches wide of Lubawa’s goal. 

In the 16th, Hassan Abdallah raced down the left flank and sent in a teasing cross into the box but Ochomo could not get on the end of it, resulting in a Singida goal kick. 

A minute later, Athanas Mdam gave Bandari goalkeeper Faruk Shikhalo a welcome to the game with a thunderous effort but the 2018 SportPesa Premier League (SPL) Golden Glove winner did well to save. 

Kenny Ally then unleashed an audacious right-footed strike from 30 yards that smacked the post with the keeper Shikhalo well beaten. 

Singida goalkeeper Lubawa then theatrically went down injured in the 28th after a collision with Msagha, causing a slight stoppage in the rather cagey encounter. 

There were strong appeals for penalty for Bandari in the 34th after Salum Kipaga seem to have handled the ball but the ref waved away the shout. 

Two minutes later, Bandari came close yet again as Fred Nkata crossed the ball into the penalty area and a first header by Hamisi fell to Abdallah’s head but the goalkeeper made a good save. 

Overhead kick

Bandari FC players mob goal-scorer William Wadri after scoring their winner in a 1-0 victory over Singida United FC during the first 2019 SportPesa Cup quarterfinal at the National Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. PHOTO/SPN

Awesu Awesu tried a wild overhead kick towards goal but his effort went flying over the bar in the 38th. 

Nicholas Meja was next in line with an attempt on goal but he shot right into the keeper’s direction for a corner to the visitors. 

The referee added three minutes to the uneventful half, with the fans and coaches alike hoping for a better second half performance from their individual teams. 

The last action of the first half was arguably the best yet as Msagha forced a great save from Lubawa after a fantastic left-footed strike towards his goal. 

The second half began at a faster pace than the first ended and Hassan sent in a good ball into the danger area but Ochomo failed to direct his header on goal immediately after the restart. 

Singida’s Benedict Beda was the first change of the game, being brought on to replace Awesu in the 50th. 

Three minutes later, the home team made another change taking off Mpaga for Jonathan Daka. 

A minute later, Singida came close to breaking the deadlock as Boniface Maganga left Shikhalo flat footed as his strike from range rattled the Bandari crossbar again. 

The hosts seemed to have found their groove and Nkata was forced to clear off from the line as the Kenyans escaped an almost certain goal.

In the next move, Bandari broke down field and somehow, with the keeper to beat, Hamisi Abdallah somehow found the side-netting. 

Mwalala made his first change after the chances bringing on youngster Moses Mudavadi for Msagha shortly after. 

In the 66th Bandari were awarded a penalty after Maganga stopped a cross with his hand and after a two minute protest by the Singida keeper, Wadri stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead and the home side were forced to come out of their shells. 

Yusuf Kagoma came close in the 77th after some good work from Ally in midfield but his shot went inches wide of Shikhalo’s goal. 

A minute later, Hamisi was shown the first yellow for the visitors after an unnecessary challenge on Maganga in midfield. 

In the 81st, Singida made another change bringing on Habibu Kyongo to replace Mohamed Abdalla as they sought a way back into the game. 

With a minute of regular time left, Bandari began to clear the ball as far away from their goal to retain their slim lead and ticket into the semis of the knockout tournament. 

Hassan was replaced in the dying moments of the game to run down the clock and was replaced by David King’atua. 

Bandari will now face either Kariobangi Sharks FC of Kenya or Tanzanian league leaders Yanga SC who were vying in the second quarterfinal in the 4:15pm EAT kick-off.