46th STANBIC UGANDA CUP
January 22, 2020 @Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku
Kajjansi United 1 (8) – 1 (7) Vipers
(32’ Michael Male)
(72’ Fahad Bayo)
Penalties won by Kajjansi United 8-7
Vipers Sports Club are thus far the biggest casualty of the 46th Stanbic Uganda Cup.
On a day of Uganda Cup upsets that saw StarTimes Uganda Premier League sides Busoga United and Onduparaka shown the exit, Vipers didn’t survive the fury of another underdog as Kajjansi United basked in the glory.
After regular time ended one apiece, a tense and dramatic post match penalty shoot-out followed and it ended 8-7 in favour of the Buganda Regional League side Kajjansi United, whose celebrations were over-the-top and duly justified.
Kajjansi United will now progress to the Round of 32 after eliminating the 2016 Uganda Cup champions – Vipers – in a match codenamed ‘Entebbe Road Derby’.
Taking the lead
The underdogs, Kajjansi United, set the pace in the match with a first half goal courtesy of Michael Male in the 32nd minute.
In typical fighting spirit, Vipers gaffer Edward Golola responded – making tactical changes to the side as early as the 38th minute when he with drew Ibrahim Tembo and replaced him with new signing Paul Mucureezi in search for quick answers.
But the first interval ended 1-0 in favour of the hosts and it was no surprise when coach Golola introduced Umar Kyebatala in the place of Dennis Mwemezi on resumption in the 46th minute.
With pressure mounting on the Venoms bench, Golola wasted no time in bringing on forward Abraham Ndugwa, his third and final substitution, for Dan ‘Mzee’ Sserunkuma in the 54th minute.
Still there was no goal for Vipers until the 72nd minute when Uganda Cranes international Fahad Bayo used his expertise to shoot past Kajjansi United goalkeeper Michael Kagiri, who had been impregnable on the day.
Tale of penalties
With neither of the sides finding the second and winning goal of the match, it was left to the post-match shootout to decide Vipers fate with Bayo, captain Geoffrey Wasswa, Farouk Musisi, Rahmat Ssenfuka, Tumwesigye, Ndugwa and Jacob Okao shaking the opposition’s net.
But Kajjansi United’s Marvin Nyanzi, Mike Lutaaya, Rashid Ssemwogerere, Edgar Luzige, Joseph Shisha, Ashraf Mbaziira, Isaac Balyejusa and Ronald Kizito made it even, and better.
Shot-stopper Kagiri, then, grabbed the headlines by saving Kyebatala’s effort from the spot to send Kajjansi United fans into a frenzy.
Vipers will now switch their attention to the Uganda Premier League with a tricky away date against Mbarara City at Kakyeka Stadium looming in five days.
Vipers SC XI
Derrick Ochan, Paul Willa, Farouk Musisi, Jacob Okao, Geoffrey Wasswa (C), Ibrahim Tembo (38’ Paul Mucureezi), Rahmat Ssenfuka, Frank Tumwesigye, Dennis Mwemezi (46’ Umar Kyebatala), Dan ‘Mzee’ Sserunkuma (54’ Abraham Ndugwa), Fahad Bayo.
Copyright 2020 Vipers Sports Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.viperssc.co.ug as the source.
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