Villa halt Vipers' surge in a charged Kitende showdown

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StarTimes Uganda Premier League

Vipers 1 SC Villa 1

Maroons 1 NEC 1
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A highly anticipated clash between two of the Uganda Premier League’s most in-form sides lived up to expectations as Vipers SC and SC Villa battled to an entertaining 1–1 draw under the floodlights at St Mary’s Stadium Kitende.

The build-up to the match had been intense. Villa arrived in Kitende on a five-match winning run and sat second on the table with 16 points from seven games.

Vipers, who began their season later because of their CAF Champions League commitments, had won all four of their opening fixtures and were in fourth place with 12 points.

The tension and tempo were evident from the opening whistle. Vipers thought they had taken an early lead inside two minutes when Yunus Sentamu scored, but the assistant referee flagged for offside.

Moments later, Villa squandered a clear chance. Hassan Mubiru broke through but opted to square the ball to Reagan Mpande instead of shooting. Vipers goalkeeper Alfred Mudekereza reacted sharply to cut out the danger.

Vipers responded immediately, with Allan Okello forcing an easy save from Villa goalkeeper David Lukwago, and from that moment, the match became a fast and open contest with chances at both ends.

Lukwago was the busier of the two goalkeepers, denying Abdulkarim Watambala in the seventh minute and stopping further efforts from Sentamu, Okello and Usama Arafat as Vipers applied sustained pressure.

At the opposite end, Villa winger Ibrahim Kasinde regularly troubled Vipers left-back Enock Luyima.

Sentamu came closest to breaking the deadlock midway through the half, bursting through the Villa defence before dragging his shot wide with only Lukwago to beat, leaving fans frustrated and the striker kicking the goalpost in annoyance.

Villa almost punished Vipers shortly before half-time when Mpande latched onto a long pass, but Hillary Mukundane blocked his effort.

Controversy marked the final moments of the half when Kasinde fell, claiming a foul by Watambala. Referee Shamirah Nabadda instead awarded a free kick to Vipers, sparking angry protests from the Villa technical bench. Substitute Sula Matovu was booked for dissent.

The first half ended goalless, with Vipers creating more chances but Villa remaining firm thanks to Lukwago’s excellent performance.

Vipers started the second period strongly. Sentamu again found a clear opening, but Raymond Mongoli made a perfectly timed tackle. Sentamu appealed for a penalty, claiming his shirt had been pulled, but Nabadda rejected the appeal.

Villa made three substitutions in the 61st minute, introducing Patrick Jonah Kakande, Frank Ssebufu and Ali Bayo for fresh energy.

The changes paid off quickly. In the 67th minute, Simon Kato Ssemayange delivered a teasing cross, and Ssebufu rose highest to head home, sending the travelling Villa supporters into wild celebration.

Their lead lasted only six minutes. In the 73rd minute, poor marking allowed Usama Arafat to tap in from close range following an inviting Okello cross, reigniting the atmosphere at Kitende and shifting momentum to Vipers.

Vipers made changes of their own, introducing Isaac Ogwang and Tadeo Lwanga for Sentamu and Watambala in the 74th minute. Okello nearly completed the comeback in the 84th minute when he curled an effort narrowly wide.

More substitutions followed, but Villa suffered a setback in the 89th minute when Sulaiman Matovu received a second yellow card and was sent off for dissent.

Three minutes of added time produced no further breakthrough, and the sides settled for a draw.

At full-time, the shared points reflected a match filled with drama. The draw ended both teams’ winning streaks, Vipers’ run of four straight victories and Villa’s run of five.

The result moved Villa to the top of the table with 17 points, level with KCCA but ahead on goal difference, while Vipers remained fourth with 13 points from only five matches. They still hold three games in hand over both Villa and KCCA, who have played eight.

For neutrals and fans alike, this was a contest that delivered everything except a winner, with high tempo, quality football, controversy and moments of brilliance from both teams.