Uganda Premier League (Match Day 18):
Saturday Results:
Vipers 1-3 SC Villa
Bright Stars 0-0 KCCA
Police 1-0 Ndejje University
Onduparaka 0-0 Kirinya-Jinja S.S
Tooro United 1-0 Paidha Black Angels
The troubled time for Sports Club Villa cast aside, the Jogoos produced their best performance of the season thus far in the convincing 3-1 victory away to Vipers at the St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday.
Charles ‘Neymar’ Lwanga, Pius ‘Muzeei’ Wangi and second half substitute Joseph Ssemujju were on target for the Jogoos during the memorable victory, despite the club’s testing times.
Tito Okello got the consolation for the Venoms in their first loss of the season.
SC Villa had the first taste at the curry with Emmanuel Kalyowa shooting over the bar from 35 yards inside the opening minute.
Vipers’ goalie Fabien Mutombora was forced into a save off Pius Wangi two minutes later
The Jogoos eventually got the breakthrough through Charles ‘Neymar’ Lwanga who finished off a quick counter attack by former Vipers’ player, Bashir Mutanda.
New Sports Club Villa goalkeeper Saidi Keni shrugged off an injury scare on 12 minutes after a collision with Tito Okello.
Wangi made it on the quarter hour mark with a header off John Adriko’s corner kick delivery.
Lwanga would have easily made it three on 18 minutes but fell as he connected with Ashraf Mandela’s cross from the right.
On 22 minutes, Villa’s January signing Asuman Harishe blocked Yayo Kato Lutimba’s shot from the left as the home side.
Vipers’ first real chance to find the back of the net arrived after 25 minutes.
Okello’s header off debutant Karim Nizigiyimana razed onto the right goal post with goalkeeper Saidi Keni beaten but Innocent Wafula tapped out the rebound.
Okello tapped home Vipers’ first goal on the evening as they staged come back after 37 minutes.
Nizigiyimana’s free-kick from the right was met at the back post to find a totally unmarked Okello who had a simple finish into the roof of the net.
Two minutes later, it was Okello once again with a shot parried out inside the goal area by Keni for a corner.
Make shift Villa center half Derrick Ndahiro executed a goal line clearance after Okello’s header had beaten Keni in goal.
On half hour mark, goalie Keni was again down with an injury concern.
The Jogoos’ captain Mandela got cautioned after 33 minutes following a clumsy late challenge on diminutive strike Dan Sserunkuma.
Lutimba had a shot way off target after 35 minutes from about 40 yards.
The Nizigiyimana-Okello combo nearly clicked again but Keni was alert to thwart the latter’s header as the opening half neared its climax.
At the beginning of the second half, SC Villa made the first change.
Wangi, who had a decent opening 45 minutes was replaced by Joseph Ssemujju.
Ssemujju was cautioned two minutes into the second half for unsporting conduct.
It was SC Villa again with the third goal, rebuilding their two goal margin.
Ssemujju out-jumped the entire Vipers defence to nod home the third goal after 49 minutes off Emmanuel Kalyowa’s inviting free-kick on the right.
After 52 minutes, Vipers had a chance to make two but Sserunkuma’s lob over Keni after Yayo Lutimba’s chip sailed out.
Vipers called for their first change of the match when Okello paved way for January signing Diego Hamis Kiiza on 54 minutes.
Exciting midfielder Albert Mugisa came in for Charles Lwanga on 56 minutes for the Jogoos’ second change.
On the hour mark, Vipers technical bench of Michael ‘Nam’ Ouma and Edward Golola brought introduced striker Abraham Ndugwa for midfielder Rahmat Ssenfuka.
The match turned lively when Ssemujju lifted the ball with either feet over defender Halid Lwaliwa to the amusement of the crowd
Vipers’ left back Lutimba limped out for Duncan Sseninde on 66 minutes.
Out of frustration, Tadeo Lwanga got cautioned for rough tackle onto David Owori with 15 minutes left on the clock.
Mutanda’s resultant free-kick missed target by inches from 30 yards.
With two minutes to go, SC Villa introduced Mike Sserumaga against his former club, taking over the slot for Mutanda for their last change.
This was only SC Villa’s third victory of the season in 18 matches, taking them to 18 points, in 12th place off Maroons who also have the same number of points.
Vipers suffer their first loss of the season in the league, their second at St Mary’s Stadium since the facility inception (the other was 2-1 to Uganda Revenue Authority).
Despite the loss, Vipers remains second, four points behind KCCA who were held to a non-scoring draw away at Bright Stars.
Team Line Ups:
Vipers XI:
Fabien Mutombora (G.K), Karim Nizigiyimana, Yayo Kato Lutimba (66’ Duncan Sseninde), Livingstone Mulondo, Halid Lwaliwa, Tadeo Lwanga (Captain), Innocent Wafula, Rahmat Ssenfuka (59’ Abraham Ndugwa), Moses Waiswa, Dan Sserunkuma, Tito Okello (54’ Hamis Diego Kiiza)
Subs Not Used:
Derrick Ochan (G.K), Henry Katongole, Brian Nkuubi, Ibrahim Tembo
Head coach: Michael Nam Ouma
SC Villa XI:
Saidi Keni (G.K), Asuman Harishe, Derrick Ndahiro, John Adriko, David Owori, Sulaiman Majanjalo, Emmanuel Kalyowa, Pius Wangi (46’ Joseph Ssemujju), Ashraf Mandela (Captain), Bashir Mutanda (88’ Mike Sserumaga), Charles Lwanga (56’ Albert Mugisa)
Subs Not Used:
Samuel Kivumbi (G.K), Habib Kavuma, Lincoln Mukisa, Moses Kiggundu
Head coach: Douglas Bamweyana
Match officials:
Referee: Rajab Bakasambe
Ashraf Mandela (Captain): Ronald Katenya
Assistant Referee 2: Musa Balikoowa
Fourth Official: Ali Kaddu
Match Commissioner: Margret Kubingi