StarTimes Uganda Premier League

Tuesday’s Result

Vipers SC 1-0 Wakiso Giants FC

Another clean sheet, another crucial victory, plus a host of wasted chances, have all been witnessed as Vipers Sports Club maintained the grip on the StarTimes Uganda Premier League (UPL) table leadership with a hard fought 1-0 win over visiting Wakiso Giants at St Mary’s stadium today.

Edward Golola made two changes to the team that overcame Busoga United 1-0 on Saturday afternoon, with Allan Kayiwa and Bobosi Byaruhanga replacing Dan Sserunkuuma and Brian Nkuubi.

It was a blistering start as the Venoms played some good football and dominated proceedings during the early stages of the match putting to waste numerous chances which came our way.

The first opportunity fell to Karim Watambala in the 11th minute when his long range effort was spilled over by Yasin Mugabi as far as Brian Kalumba who ironically failed to connect from the rebound allowing the goalkeeper to recover.

It continued to be a one way traffic as Vipers searched for the opener and moments later, Simon Namwanja blocked Fahad Bayo’s goal bound shot with Mugabi already beaten while Paul Willa, Brian Kalumba and Watambala, all had chances in a space of 15 minutes but couldn’t convert any.

A breakthrough was finally realised in the 30th minute when Bobosi lofted a neat pass to Bayo who expertly chested the ball well, made space for himself with his back facing the goal, turned on the ball and struck it excellently into the net giving Mugabi no chance at all.

Due to the relent attacks from Vipers, Kirizestom Ntambi found himself in the referee’s book for a foul on Aziz Kayondo before he later found Viane Ssekajugo with a defence splitting pass enroute to Geoffrey Sserunkuuma whose low ball lacked power as Fabien Mutombora easily collected it.

With 10 minutes to the breather, Kalumba broke through on the right, beat Namwanja on the ball and crossed to Bayo who surprisingly tapped it over the bar with Mugabi at his mercy.

And just moments later, Bobosi forced a save from Mugabi with a thunderous strike while on the opposite end, Hakim Senkumba almost equalised from a beautiful chip but Mutombora was alert to avert any danger keeping Vipers in the lead at the interval though before that, Bayo hesitated to shoot in a one on one situation with Mugabi missing an open chance.

Neither side made a change after the break as they looked to keep up the gear in pursuit of victory and immediately, Sekajugo caught us on the break but fired wide for the visitors while Bayo tested Mugabi the other end from a Bobosi through pass.

With 59 minutes on the clock, the Venoms had a penalty call turned down by William Oloya after Watambala oozed through a forest of legs like a hot knife cutting throught butter before Namwanja brought him down in the forbidden area but the referee wasn’t interested however, moments later, Wakiso Giants tasted the same when Kayondo seemingly handled a cross from the left and Oloya waved play on.

In a desperate need to find glory, both coaches made changes as the second half progressed with Golola replacing Kayiwa, Watambala and Kalumba bringing on Nkuubi, Denis Mwemezi and Rahmat Senfuka respectively.

On the other side, Steven Bengo made a tactical change as Lawrence Bukenya paved way for Alex Komakech who then took over the left back position as Namwanja moved to the midfield in a bid to beef it up by helping the worn out Ntambi.

Amos Muwonge later replaced Ntambi while Karim Ndugwa came on for Serunkuuma as the visitors started to get on top late in the game, with a series of attacks and some shaky defending from the hosts which worried the home faithful.

And indeed in added time, Vipers survived a scare as Sekajugo curled a blockbuster past Mutombora but had already been flagged offside to the relief of our fans and it proved to be the final moment of note as the lads held on for a precious victory to move six points clear of second placed BUL FC.

Bobosi was picked as man of the match after a series of brilliant passes and assist for the only goal to bag the three points.

How they lined up:

Vipers SC XI:

Mutombora, Willa, Kayondo, Asiku, Lwaliwa, Sentamu, Byaruhanga, Watambala (Mwemezi), Bayo, Kalumba (Senfuka), Kayiwa (Nkuubi).

Unused Subs: Ochan, Wasswa, Musisi, Sserunkuuma.

Wakiso Giants FC XI:

Mugabi, Kateregga, Namwanja, Mudde, Kawooya, Senkumba, Bukenya (Komakech), Ntambi (Muwonge), Sserunkuuma (Ndugwa), Senyonjo, Sekajugo.

Unused Subs:

Emukule, Kiweewa, Wasswa, Mawejje.

Copyright 2019 Vipers Sports Club plc. Permission to use photos and quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.viperssc.co.ug as the source.