Kampala — Three goals, a wonder strike, a match-winning goalkeeping performance and a triumphant start; what more value for money could the over 30,000 expectant crowd have wanted?

The Cranes and Angola clashed in chaotic style at Mandela National Stadium yesterday and both the performance and overall result must have pleased the almost capacity crowd that included President Yoweri Museveni.

Inspired by David Obua's well-executed breakthrough strike on 30 minutes, Andrew Mwesigwa's second half effort and Geoffrey Sserunkuuma's beauty on 85 minutes, the Cranes registered the best possible start to the 2012 Nations Cup qualifiers.

"Its good we won the first game. I have always said that this country has talented players. You just have to trust them. It was the perfect performance we wanted. I am pleased for the players and the fans," Cranes coach Bobby Williamson stated after the game.

Although there were a series of nervous moments that had the hosts on the back-foot, with goalkeeper Denis Onyango often coming to the rescue, the Cranes deserved their win as their expansive approach to the game was at times irresistible.

Same old story

African heavyweights Nigeria, Ghana have all fallen at Mandela Stadium before. And so did Angola a couple of years ago in a humiliating 3-1 defeat. It will be asked whether Angola expected a different outcome. The only difference this time is that the Palancas Negras could not score.

Not even three-quarters of the 14 free-kicks Egyptian referee Samir Osman Mahomoud gifted them could make a difference. "Cranes are simply good. We were tactically poor. We were very poor and inefficient with the chances we got," Angola coach Herve Renard lamented.

Angola, in shambles after making the trip to Kampala without Flavio, Ze Kalanga and Jose Alberto Mabina, revealed rough edges right from the start.

They conceded two consecutive corners, survived two scares that had Geoffrey Massa shoot wide and Mike Sserumagga come close with a superbly-struck free-kick before succumbing to the first goal, instinctively finished by Obua after being set-up by Vincent Kayizzi in a move that was started by Massa.

The game as a contest would literally have died at the moment Massa was presented with another opportunity shortly afterwards - a chance the Egypt-based striker simply drove wide.

On the evidence of their first half showing, Angola had clearly marched into the fixture short on ambition. The Negras however looked rejuvenated in the second half and could have bounced back into the game instantly but danger-man Sebastiao Gilberto lost his footing on his run towards goal after being released by Manucho.

It seemed to have awoken the Cranes, who then caught the visitors on the break with Sserumagga patiently playing Obua into Angola 's third. However, the Hearts midfielder could have done better other side-net his effort.

Angola's reaction countered Cranes' inventive approach necessitated a knee-jerk reaction and the visitors brought on striker Andre Buengo for Djalma Campos. The change seemed to revive Angola and Onyango yet again had to thwart Ricardo Estevao's in-swinging cross that had created pandemonium in the Cranes' 18-yard area.

There are of course better individuals in the game, but there was no unit more authoritative than Cranes' back-four commanded by Godfrey Walusimbi, Andrew Mwesigwa, captain Ibrahim Sekagya and Simeon Masaba on the day. It was often a question of balance and organization rather than personnel, for there were no doubts about the abilities of Tony Mawejje, pivoting ahead of Mude Musa.

Former Manchester United striker Manucho was alleged to be a threat but was completely subdued. There was an eye for goal, a cunning instinct to deceive on the run and above all, an amalgamation of precision in Cranes' second on 60 minutes.

Mwesigwa, barging in ahead of the offside Massa, surged into the box, took a breath, before unleashing a thunderbolt that left Angola 's custodian Luis Joad stranded. At 2-0, and with half an hour to go, Angola still had belief and Onyango had to block Buengo's shot. With pressure mounting and Cranes forced on the back-foot, Masaba, Sserumagga and Walusimbi were booked for cynical fouls.

Williamson then brought on Brian Umony for Obua and Massa off for Sserunkuuma - substitutions that conspired to earn Cranes the third. Umony released Kayizzi down the right and all the Serbia-based winger was left to do was find a perfectly placed Sserunkuuma, whose brushed header provided the icing to a majestic victory and start to the night-long celebrations.

Nations Cup result

Uganda 3 Angola 0