Uganda Premier League
Mbarara City FC 1-2 Vipers SC
Vipers SC maintained their unbeaten start to life under Roberto Oliviera thanks to a 2-1 victory away to Mbarara City FC on Friday, November 19.
The Venoms who have now won four and drawn once since the Brazilian took over went into the game without victory at Kakyeka stadium since the 2017/ 18 football season.
Bobosi Byaruhanga put the Venoms ahead on nine minutes before substitute Ibrahim Orit who had replaced the injured Yunus Ssentamu on 25 minutes doubled the lead in the second half.
After quick pressing by the visitors in the opening minutes in Mbarara, a breakthrough came as Bobosi struck a superb ball from Cesar Manzoki.
The hosts thought they had grabbed an instant equalizer two minutes later, but Venoms’ captain Halid Lwalilwa made a timely clearance to deny Solomon Okwalinga.
Vipers should have doubled the lead but Yunus Sentamu was just nano-seconds late, failing to tap in Milton Karisa’s sensational delivery with 15 minutes played.
That was Sentamu’s last piece of action as he was withdrawn moments later after what appeared a bad injury. In his place, the pacey Orit was introduced by head coach Robertinho.
Orit almost made an instant tangible impact. At the half hour mark, he crossed sweetly for Manzoki but the Congolese narrowly missed the target.
The shirt nine turned creator five minutes later, laying back a good ball to Bobosi’s feet at the egde of the box, but his stinging shot missing the target by a few inches.
In the second stanza, none of the teams looked threatening in the opening ten minutes or so, with both sides struggling to mastermind scoring opportunities.
Vipers’ Robertinho introduced Paul Mucureezi at the hour-mark and he re-ignited their fluidity in the final third.
Three minutes after his introduction, he crossed superbly for Manzoki but the latter’s header unluckily sailed inches over the bar, denying the Venoms a second.
At 74 minutes, like it was for the first goal, the brilliant Manzoki yet again turned provider, but this time to Orit to make it 2-0.
At the death, the home side grabbed a consolation through Pitis Barange but it was too little too late to change the result as it stayed 2-1 at the final whistle.
Vipers stay second and unbeaten. They have made 13 points in five games played and will host URA FC in their next game on 27th November.
Vipers: Fabien Mutombora (GK), Paul Willa, Halid Lwalilwa (C), Livingstone Mulondo, Sirajje Ssentamu, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Bright Anukani, Milton Karisa, Yunus Sentamu, Cesar Manzoki
Substitutions: Denis Kiggundu (GK), Ibrahim Orit, Bashir Asiku, Paul Mucureezi, David Bagoole, Nelito Tavares, Disan Ggaliwango
Copyright 2021 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.