Joseph Zziwa’s 80th-minute strike gave Express a hard-fought 1-0 victory over SC Villa in the hotly-contested Kampala derby at Nakivubo Stadium on Friday.
The defender’s late heroics handed Express both the bragging rights and three crucial points, propelling them to fourth place in the Uganda Premier League standings.
The clash under Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo’s floodlights brought both drama and intensity, with Villa initially taking control.
The visitors dominated the opening exchanges, fashioning opportunities through Patrick Jonah Kakande and Hakim Kiwanuka.
Charles Lwanga had Villa’s best chance, maneuvering past defenders but narrowly missing the target.
Express however, returned from the halftime break with renewed vigor, pressing high and testing Villa’s defensive resilience.
Rashid Kawawa and Richard Basangwa were particularly threatening, using their pace to keep Villa’s backline on edge.
Kawawa’s efforts saw a penalty appeal turned down and a powerful freekick miss the mark, while Sam Ssenyonjo squandered a close-range chance after Kawawa’s header put him in space.
The game’s decisive moment came with a set-piece routine between Saidi Kyeyune and John Asiimwe.
Kyeyune’s cross, sent in with precision, led to a failed clearance by Villa captain Ronald Ssekiganda, leaving Zziwa the chance to fire the ball into the roof of the net from close range.
The stadium erupted as the Red Eagles celebrated their first derby win over Villa in two years.
The victory lifts Express to fourth place on 12 points, while Villa, who are the defending champions, slipped to seventh with 11 points.
This outcome breaks Villa’s recent dominance in the derby, having won the last four encounters home and away.
Express, riding high on this win, will next face BUL in Lugazi on November 23, while SC Villa will aim for redemption against Wakiso Giants at Wankulukuku on the same day.
