KAMPALA, Uganda – South Sudan Premier League champions Al Merriekh SC Bentiu staged a dramatic late comeback to defeat Uganda's Lukuli Hearts FC 2-1 in their third pre-season friendly match in Kampala.
The Ugandan side took the lead in the 66th minute through Bora, leaving Al Merriekh facing their first defeat of the pre-season.
However, the South Sudan champions responded in the closing stages. Kuach Kondit calmly converted a penalty in the 84th minute to restore parity before Malual struck deep into stoppage time, scoring the winner in the 90+5th minute to complete an impressive turnaround.
The victory continues Al Merriekh's strong pre-season preparations, with the team remaining unbeaten as they build momentum ahead of the 2026/27 season.
The match also offered the technical staff another valuable opportunity to assess the squad under competitive conditions as the South Sudan champions fine-tune their preparations for the new campaign.
