- Vipers 1-1 Soana
A determined Soana Football Club recovered from a goal down to hold two-time league champions Vipers to a one-all draw during the Uganda Premier League at the St Mary’s Kitende on Wednesday.
Hours after their head coach Shafiq Bisaso announced his resignation, they had a mission to accomplish on a ground where Vipers remains unbeaten since being renovated.
Erisa Ssekisambu fired the home side into the lead on 21 minutes from a penalty kick.
The penalty arose after a foul into the area on Congolese striker Moussa Mbayi by John Muwanguzi after 17 minutes.
The earlier attempt by pacy winger cum forward Milton Karisa was saved by goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa who dived to his left to stop the seemingly weak shot.
FIFA referee Mashood Ssali then ordered for the penalty re-take after being alerted by the first assistant Dick Okello following the alleged movement by the former Kirinya-Jinja S.S shot stopper before the ball was played.
The venoms took the slim 1-0 lead heading to the mandatory half time break.
Three minutes into restart, the visitors resumed played an energized entity.
A goal melee that involved two Vipers’ center halves Deus Bukenya and Shafiq Bakaki under pressure from Emmanuel Kalyowa, a well positioned Baker Buyala slotted the ball home past the advancing goalkeeper Isma Watenga.
Vipers would have recorded a cricket score had the numerous goal scoring opportunities been converted.
Milton Karisa, Tom Masiko, overlapping Nico Wakiro Wadada and left back Dan Birikwalira were culprits of missed chances.
The home side technical bench of Miguel Da Costa as well as the Edward duo of Golola and Ssali introduced Steven Mukwala, Baden Mujahid and Ashraf Mandela for Mbayi, goal hero Ssekisambu and Moses Waiswa respectively.
Soana’s stand in coach David Katono Mutono called off Davis Ssali for Allan Kayiwa with 20 minutes left on the clock. Injured Buyala then paved way for the vastly experienced Farouk Wejuli Osama inside the final 5 minutes of the game.
Vipers’ late surge to the Soana goal yielded no dividends as the visitors’ backline held it tight to the end.
”2017-18
| Pos | Team | W | D | L | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  KCCA FC | 94 | 42 | 22 | 172 |
| 2 |  Vipers SC | 93 | 43 | 21 | 143 |
| 3 |  URA FC | 68 | 63 | 28 | 78 |
| 4 |  SC Villa | 66 | 55 | 39 | 48 |
| 5 |  Express FC | 62 | 46 | 49 | 29 |
| 6 |  Onduparaka FC | 58 | 44 | 56 | -9 |
| 7 |  BUL FC | 57 | 42 | 60 | 12 |
| 8 |  Soltilo Bright Stars | 45 | 66 | 49 | -1 |
| 9 |  Busoga United | 51 | 46 | 60 | -35 |
| 10 |  Police | 51 | 39 | 68 | -10 |
| 11 |  Mbarara City | 42 | 42 | 45 | -6 |
| 12 |  Tooro United FC | 40 | 34 | 58 | -52 |
| 13 |  UPDF FC | 31 | 27 | 45 | -36 |
| 14 |  Proline | 23 | 25 | 36 | -20 |
| 15 |  Maroons FC | 20 | 34 | 31 | -24 |
| 16 |  Wakiso Giants | 23 | 21 | 24 | -4 |
| 17 |  Kyetume FC | 14 | 11 | 27 | -32 |
| 18 |  Arua Hill SC | 8 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| 19 |  Lweza | 5 | 14 | 10 | -6 |
| 20 |  NDEJJE | 6 | 9 | 15 | -18 |
| 21 |  Sadolin Paints | 5 | 11 | 13 | -12 |
| 22 |  Masavu FC | 5 | 11 | 15 | -26 |
| 23 |  Gaddafi FC | 5 | 6 | 6 | -5 |
| 24 |  Nyamityobora | 4 | 5 | 21 | -34 |
| 25 |  MYDA | 3 | 5 | 19 | -45 |
| 26 |  PAIDHA | 2 | 7 | 21 | -38 |
| 27 |  Kitara FC | 3 | 4 | 19 | -40 |
| 28 |  JMC Hippos | 0 | 10 | 19 | -31 |
| 29 |  Egypt | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 30 |  Uganda | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 31 |  Algeria | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 32 |  Morocco | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 33 |  Nigeria | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 |  Madagascar | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 35 |  Cameroon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 36 |  Guinea | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 37 |  Kenya | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| 38 |  Senegal | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 39 |  Ghana | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 |  Ivory Coast | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 40 |  South Africa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 42 |  DR Congo | 1 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| 43 |  Benin | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 43 |  Tunisia | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 45 |  Angola | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 46 |  Mali | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 47 |  Guinea-Bissau | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 |
| 48 |  Mauritania | 0 | 1 | 0 | -3 |
| 49 |  Zimbabwe | 0 | 1 | 2 | -4 |
| 50 |  Burkina Faso | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 50 |  Gabon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 50 |  Impis RFC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 50 |  KOBs RFC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 50 |  Togo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 50 |  Zambia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 56 |  Congo Brazzaville | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 57 |  Namibia | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 |
| 58 |  Tanzania | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 |
| 59 |  Burundi | 0 | 0 | 3 | -4 |
Despite the draw, Vipers climbed aloft the 16 team log, displacing Kirinya Jinja S.S.
However, both Vipers and Kirinya Jinja S.S have 11 points although the former have a goal advantage.
A point earned for Soana puts them on six.
Vipers Sports Club played to their second draw of the season
Vipers XI: Ismael Watenga (G.K), Nico Wakiro Wadada (Captain), Dan Birikwalira, Shafiq Bakaki, Deus Bukenya, Tom Masiko, Erisa Ssekisambu (65’ Baden Mujahid), Tadeo Lwanga, Moussa Mbayi (56’ Steven Mukwala), Moses Waiswa (85’ Mandela), Milton Karisa
Subs Not Used: James Alitho (G.K), Yayo Lutimba, Hassan Kalega, Brian Nkuubi,
Soana XI: Joel Mutakubwa (G.K), Siraje Turyamuhebwa, Issa Mubiru, Swaibu Mudde, Abdallah Nyanzi, Davis Ssali (70’ Allan Kayiwa), Paddy Muhumuza, Baker Buyala (88’ Farouk Osman Wejuli), Emmanuel Kalyowa, Baker Lukooya
Subs Not Used: Meddie Kibirige (G.K), Timothy Musinguzi, Eddie Ruhweza, Willy Kavuma, , Rahumatah Kajimu