Champions Vipers SC played out a tightly contested one-all Uganda Premier League stalemate with Maroons Football Club at Luzira Prisons on Wednesday.
With the draw, we missed out on a chance to go top of the table, as we would have overtaken leaders BUL FC by virtue of goal difference.
A point on the road ensured that the Venoms stayed second with 24 points, two adrift of BUL at the top.
Fred Amaku and Milton Karisa netted for Maroons and Vipers, respectively to enable each side salvage a stalemate.
On the evening, Vipers started strongly and looked the likelier to break the deadlock, but Yunus Sentamu, Bright Anukani and Erick Kambale all missed decent opportunities earlier on in the game.
That was before Amaku pounced in the 33rd minute for Maroons, latching on a loose ball after goalkeeper Fabien Mutombora had failed to keep out a Solomon Walusimbi stinging shot.
Early in the second half, Karisa received a ball from Kambale to turn the defence and slot past Hannington Ssebwalunyo for the equalizer.
Karisa thought he had given us the much-needed lead in the 83rd minute, but his goal off a Fumador Asiwome pass was disallowed for offside by the linesman.
Vipers will now have to beat BUL in our next match at the St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, to assume table leadership, come Friday, December 22.
How We Lined Up:
Fabien Mutombora (GK), Ashraf Mandela, Richard Matovu, Patrick Mbowa, Bright Anukani, Yunus Sentamu, Milton Karisa (C), Erick Kambale, Livingstone Mulondo, Rogers Torach, Karim Watambala.
Substitutions: Jack Komakech, Murushid Juuko, Abubakar Lawal, Abubakali Walusimbi, Allan Okello, Isa Mubiru, Enock Luyima, Fumador Asiwome, Grant Matsiko, Mohamed Salem.