Vipers 2-1 Soltilo Bright Stars: Venoms rebuild 4 points lead over KCCA

Uganda Premier League 2021-2022 (Match Day 19):

Vipers 2-1 Soltilo Bright Stars
Arua Hill 4-2 Wakiso Giants

Vipers Sports Club registered a 2-1 routine home win over Soltilo Bright Stars in the Uganda Premier League during the close contest at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende on Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

Defender Halid Lwaliwa and Congolese forward Ceaser Lobi Manzoki scored the goals for the four time UPL champions.

A well converted penalty by pacy winger Ibrahim Kasindi that equalized the game at some stage was only turned into a consolation.

Vipers got to a brilliant start when midfielder Bobosi Byaruhanga swept in a free-kick but defender Warren Buule had a perfect headed clearance on three minutes.

Winger Milton Karisa would have scored two minutes later but his final ball remained wanting even after beating off goalkeeper Simon Tamale.

Vipers took the lead on 10 minutes when Byaruhanga’s free-kick from the right was headed home by captain Lwaliwa.

Vipers’ captain Halid Lwaliwa celebrates their opening goal (Credit: John Batanudde) Credit: John Batanudde

Vipers’ captain Halid Lwaliwa celebrates a goal (Credit: John Batanudde) Credit: John Batanudde

The first real threat from the visitors arrived on the quarter hour mark but defender Derrick Ngobi shot way off target.

Midfielder Yasin Mugume curled over Fabien Mutombora on 19 minutes.

The closest Soltilo Bright Stars came to scoring was in the 21^st minute but goalkeeper Mutombora denied Ngobi from close range.

Vipers’ Paul Willa takes on Yasin Mugume and Emmanuel Loki (Credit: John Batanudde) Credit: John Batanudde

Towards the hour mark, Lwaliwa missed a chance for a brace when he headed out Yunus Sentamu’s well delivered cross from the left.

Karisa arrived late to meet Yiga’s inviting cross from the left in the 37^th minute and moments later goalkeeper Tamale was quicker off the line to thwart a through-ball from Manzoki intended for Karisa.

Vipers led by the half way mark 1-0.

Siraje Sentamu takes on Yasin Mugume at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende (Credit: John Batanudde) Credit: John Batanudde

Five minutes into the final stanza, Vipers conceded a penalty when defender Livingstone Mulondo felled into the area Mugume.

Confidently, Kasinde stood up and sent goalkeeper Mutombora the wrong way, stabbing the ball to the Burundian goalkeeper’s right as he dived to the left.

Soltilo Bright Stars’ Ibrahim Kasinde celerates his goal (Credit: John Batanudde) Credit: John Batanudde

Soltilo Bright Stars players celebrate their equalizer that later turned out into a consolation (Credit: John Batanudde) Credit: John Batanudde

Lwaliwa was booked by referee Deogratius Opio for protesting the penalty.

Moments later, Byaruhanga’s free-kick hit the defensive wall from 25 yards.

Soltilo Bright Stars’ left back Simon Ssemayange closes down Vipers’ winger Milton Karisa (Credit: John Batanudde) Credit: John Batanudde

Manzoki scored from close range following a goal melee in the 57^th minute.

The visitors reacted with a change; Methiodious Jungu, a former captain at St Mary’s Boarding Secondary School, Kitende and player for Vipers Junior Team replaced a weary Mugume.

Vipers missed a penalty by Byaruhanga in the 65^th minute after goalkeeper Tamale saved the midfielder.

Bobosi Byaruhanga gestures during the match (Credit: John Batanudde) Credit: John Batanudde

The penalty had come following a foul on Yunus Sentamu from an earlier tempting through ball by Manzoki that resulted into a push by defender Buule.

On 70 minutes, Yunus Sentamu shot out with the weaker left foot inside the goal area.

Vipers’ center forward Yunus Junior Sentamu in action (Credit: John Batanudde) Credit: John Batanudde

Soltilo Bright Stars called for a double change with 10 minutes left on the clock.

Joseph Janjali was rested for Alfred Onek and Kasinde paved way for Denis Omony Kaka.

Karisa missed from close range after a well laid ball from Manzoki on the left flank.

With five minutes to play, Soltilo Bright Stars’ players bitterly complained as they called for a goal as goalkeeper Mutombora had a save on the goal-line as Vipers held onto the lead to take maximum points.

Manzoki was named the pilsner man of the match.

Vipers’ forward Ceaser Manzoki shares a light moment with Soltilo Bright Stars’ goalkeeper Simon Tamale after the game (Credit: David Isabirye)

Vipers got their 13^th win in 19 outings that took them to 43 points, four adrift from the second placed KCCA.

KCCA visit Express at the Betway Muteesa II Wankulukuku Stadium on Thursday, 3^rd March 2022.

Meanwhile, the other game played on Tuesday witnessed a massive 4-1 home win for Arua Hill over Wakiso Giants at the Barifa stadium in Arua city.

Vipers XI Vs Soltilo Bright Stars (Credit: John Batanudde) Credit: John Batanudde

Team Line Ups:

Vipers XI: Fabien Mutombora (G.K), Paul Willa, Dissan Galiwango, Halid Lwaliwa (Captain), Livingstone Mulondo, Siraje Sentamu, Milton Karisa, Najib Yiga, Ceaser Lobi Manzoki, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Yunus Junior Sentamu

Subs: Jack Komakech (G.K), Dan Muzeyi Sserunkuma, Hillary Mukundane, Denis Mwemezi, Allan Kayiwa, Ibrahim Kayiwa

Head coach: Robert Oliveria

Soltilo Bright Stars XI Vs Vipers (Credit: John Batanudde) Credit: John Batanudde

Soltilo Bright Stars XI: Simon Tamale (G.K), Andrew Kaggwa (G.K), Simon Ssemayange, Warren Buule, Derrick Ngobi, Fiat Cleophus, Ibrahim Kasinde, Marvin Youngman, Emmanuel Loki, Yasin Mugume, Joseph Janjali (Captain)

Subs: Emmanuel Derrick Were (G.K), Jamir Kisitu Nvule, Denis Omony Kaka, Derrick Kiggundu, Methodius Jungu, Allan Katwe, Alfred Onek

Head coach: Paul Kiwanuka

Assistant coach: Simon Peter Mugerwa

Center Referee: Deogratious Opio