StarTimes Uganda Premier League: SC Villa 1 Maroons 0

Ten-man SC Villa beat Maroons 1-0 at the Akii-Bua Stadium in Lira to return to winning ways.

Villa who had lost back-to-back games 2-0 to Vipers and 3-0 to KCCA, regrouped to pick up a hard-earned vital three points.

Striker Patrick Kakande scored Villa's only goal in the 12th minute after slaloming past three defenders — Jacob Okao, Fred Okot and Ceasar Olega — before shooting past Emmanuel Akol in the Maroons goal.

Villa should have gone on to double its lead before half time but for Kakande and Charles Bbaale among others to squander great scoring opportunities.

In the second half, Maroons had a chance to level matters but Villa defender Kenneth Ssemakula held the ball in the box to deny the visitors a goal prompting the referee to hand him his marching  orders awarding Maroons a penalty.

Forward Fred Amaku was denied twice by Villa goalkeeper Meddie Kibirige including a rebound.

Villa who played for most of the second half a man down, managed remained solid in defence to weather the Maroons storm and bag all three points.

Jogoo skipper Fred Gift hailed the character of his teammates.

“Even when we were a man down, we remained calm knowing that we could win the game. This was a solid performance from the team and we want the same in the next games. We are still targeting silverware this season,” noted Gift.

This was Villa's second game to be played in Lira behind closed doors after FUFA punished the record league champions over fan trouble in Villa’s recent 2-1 loss to Wakiso Giants.

The victory saw Villa go fourth on the table with 17 points, seven above 11th-placed Maroons.

KCCA FC is top of the log with 22 points.