Total CAF Champions League
El Merreikh 2-1 Vipers SC
Second Leg
December 5th
Vipers SC v El Merreikh
Vipers SC may have lost the first leg of the preliminary round in the CAF Champions League but walked away in Khartoum with heads high after getting a priceless goal in the 2-1 loss.
Striker Dan ‘Muzeeyi’ Sserunkuma scored the vital goal in a pulsating end to a closely contested encounter played at the El Merreikh stadium on Wednesday.
The Venoms put up a resilient performance unto the final ten minutes that saw either sides urge forward to eventually break the deadlock.
El Merreikh who missed a penalty in the first half broke the duck in the 79th minute through Madina Bakri and Ibrahim Altag added the other but Sserunkuma pulled one back for Vipers SC.
Manager Javier Martinez Espinosa made several changes from the team that played against Paidha Black Angels in the Uganda Premier League over the weekend.
Livingstone Mulondo partnered with Halid Lwaliwa at the heart of defence with Geoffrey Wasswa pushed to the midfield.
Skipper Taddeo Lwanga and his assistant Moses Waiswa who were rested against Paidha Black Angels returned to the starting team.
Noah Wafula too made a start with Tito Okello and Abraham Ndugwa completing the forward trio.
Young goalkeeper Bashir Ssekagya started in goal in the absence of Fabien Mutombora who is out injured.
Vipers first attempt came in the 12th minute when his cross from the left flank was cleared away by El Merreikh.
El Jas of El Merreikh was booked four minutes later for bringing down Vipers SC winger Noah Wafula.
Okello forced goalkeeper Monjed into a fine save with his low drive after beating off his marker to send a ferocious strike that was parried away for a corner.
The home team were awarded a penalty in the 33rd minute when Wafula committed a foul in the box but Ahmed Adam failed to convert from the spot.
In the second stanza, the manager made changes bringing on Sserunkuma for Ndugwa while Okello paved way for Duncan Sseninde.
With eleven miutes on the clock, El Merreikh were awarded another penalty when Livingstone Mulondo held the ball in the area and Bakri this time sent Ssekagya the wrong way.
Three minutes later, Altag doubled the lead but Sserunkuma tapped home from a Moses Waiswa cross to pull one back for the Venoms.
The two teams will face off in the return leg on December 5th at St. Mary’s stadium.
Vipers XI Against El Merriekh
Bashir Ssekagya, Ibrahim Kiyemba, Yayo Lutimba, Halid Lwalilwa, Livingstone Mulondo,Taddeo Lwanga, Geoffrey Wasswa, Moses Waiswa, Abraham Ndugwa (Dan Sserunkuma), Tito Okello (Duncan Sseninde), Noah Wafula (Rahmat Ssenfuka).