Villa fight back to beat Bright Stars 2-1

STARTIMES UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE

By Joseph Kizza

@joekizza


Friday result

SC Villa  2-1  Bright Stars

Kyetume 3-2 Onduparaka

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SC Villa bounced back from Sunday's 2-1 defeat to BUL by reversing roles and subjecting Bright Stars to the same treatment at Namboole Stadium to stay within touching distance of the top two.

The Jogoo had to do it the hard way, finding themselves shrugged against the wall and needing to fight their way back into the game after Jamil Kalisa's opening goal in the 16th-minute gave the visitors a bright start almost mirroring their name - Bright Stars.

Villa had to walk back into the dressing room trailing and in need of a redemptive response after the break. And sure enough, the half-time pep talk produced the sort of desired effect that the home support had longed for.

The mood inside the vast, half-empty Namboole Stadium changed, as the home fans saw their side restore parity through Emmanuel Wasswa's header from a substitute Benson Muhindo delivery.

Muhindo then switched roles, turning from provider to scorer, to head Villa in front with what would be the winning goal. It was prolonged celebrations after the final whistle as the hosts relished a victory that took them to within six points of second-placed KCCA.

Defending champions KCCA, who are on 49 points, are four points adrift of leaders Vipers, with six games left to get the season done and dusted.

To the neutrals, the destiny of the title remains unclear. Anything can happen in the remaining fixtures. Nonetheless, Kitende-based Venoms know winning their next five games will secure them their fourth title.

Villa can still catch KCCA, and with the sort of form that they are in, the holders cannot afford to feel safe in second place.

Bright Stars came into Friday's game on the back of three successive victories - over Proline, Police and Busoga. A great start at Namboole put them on course for a fourth straight win, but Villa were not about to get on the chopping block and instead threw the spanner in the visitors' works.

Defeat means that Bright Stars slip to 10th, relinquishing the spot immediately above to Kyetume, who beat Onduparaka in an entertaining game also played on Friday.

The Mighty Arena played host to a pulsating seesawing piece of action between Kyetume and their Arua-based visitors.

Baker Buyala gave the hosts the lead, before his goal was cancelled out by Rajab Kakooza's strike shortly after the interval.

Robert Ssentongo restored Kyetume's lead from the spot but Onduparaka still had it in them to respond with an equaliser in the 83rd minute through Julius Maliamungu's penalty. Just when the game looked like it would end with a sharing of the spoils, Kyetume found the winner in stoppage time. Final score: 3-2.

That was Onduparaka's fourth defeat in the last five games, and that run of indifferent results keeps the Arua side, who are on 31 points, in eighth place - nine above the relegation zone.

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IN PICTURES: FRIDAY ACTION AT NAMBOOLE


It was a wet Friday in many parts of Kampala. Namboole was not spared

 

But the weather would not dampen the spirits of both teams and their supporters

 

Both teams had chances, but the forwards on both sides were guilty of profligacy. They just could not get their bearings right

 

The two goalkeepers had a busy early evening, drawing into save after save to keep their respective teams in it

 

Bright Stars drew first blood in the 16th minute of the opening half, but the hosts clawed back in the game with two second-half headed goals

 

The visitors had chances to level the scoreline, while Villa, too, had their fair share of opportunities to improve their lead

 
In the end, Bright Stars' perfect recent winning run hit one of Namboole's dead ends. Back to the drawing board for the visitors. For Villa, it is the sort of rejuvenation that they would want to keep in their camp