Uganda Premier League

Maroons 1 Mbarara City 0

Kitara 1 NEC 0

UPDF 0 Vipers 1

Vipers beat ten-man UPDF 1-0 at Bombo on Sunday to close the gap to BUL to four points at the top of the Uganda Premier League table.

Defender Livingstone Mulondo scored the only goal just after ten minutes off Bright Anukani’s corner kick. What would have been a deserved second by Milton Karisa was cancelled.

The game was halted in the 30th minute following a downpour and after a 23-minute break, play resumed.

In the second half, Venoms introduced right back Ashraf Mandela for Eric Kambale to try and stop UPDF attacks down the right wing.

UPDF stepped up its attacks but Vipers' defence commanded by Mulondo and Rogers Torach stood firm.

The Army side saw its player Aggrey Kirya sent off after a second bookable offence after a tackle on substitute Asiwome Fumador.

Congolese winger and substitute Rodrigue Shamamba should have doubled Vipers’ lead following a cross from Fumador, but his effort was saved by goalkeeper Simon Mabuya.

UPDF wanted a late penalty after Fumador brought down one of their players.

They also failed to capitalise on a late effort from right-back Christopher Tebandeke that went wide as UPDF succumbed to its fifth defeat of the season.

Mulondo who was also voted man-of-the-match, said the victory keeps his side in contention for the title.

"We believe winning this game improves our chances of being in contention for the title. The rains didn't also affect us since we are used in training at both artificial and natural pitches," noted Mulondo.

BUL lead the standings with 24 points while UPDF remained 13th with 8 points.

Elsewhere, Maroons beat Mbarara City 1-0 at Luzira to register their first home win of the season.

Top scorer Fred Amaku was Maroons’ saviour as they registered their fifth win of the season.

In Masindi, Kitara returned to winning ways after beating NEC 1-0 in Masindi.

Jude Ssemugabi was on target as the Royals broke a three-game winless run.