Vipers restore four-point lead with win in Bombo

Results

UPDF 0 Vipers 1

NEC 0 UPPC 0

Friday Fixtures

BUL v Mbarara

Police v NEC

Kitara v Buhimba

Vipers SC strengthened their grip at the top of the Uganda Premier League (UPL) table (47 points) with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over UPDF FC at Bombo Military Barracks Grounds on Wednesday.

Goals from Arafat Usama and Abdulkarim Watambala ensured the Venoms secured maximum points at one of the league’s most difficult venues for visiting teams, restoring their four-point lead at the summit.

The win moved Vipers further ahead of second-placed Kitara (43 points)RE, who had temporarily closed the gap to one point after their 1-0 victory over Mbarara City in Kamwenge on Tuesday.

Heading into the match, there were concerns among Vipers supporters that UPDF could spring a surprise after the Army side had held Kitara to a 1-1 draw at the same venue just five days earlier.

However, Vipers controlled proceedings for large spells of the contest. Although they created few clear chances in the first half, they dictated possession and restricted UPDF from troubling goalkeeper Denis Kiggundu.

The visitors finally broke the deadlock in the 56th minute when Usama headed home from an Odili Chukwuma free-kick.

UPDF responded late in the game and drew level in the 80th minute when Enrique Lubwama’s powerful effort took a deflection off defender Rogers Torach and ended up in the net.

But the parity lasted only five minutes. Watambala restored Vipers’ lead through an excellent Vipers counter attack, meeting a precise pass from Gusto Mulongo and calmly slotting past goalkeeper Shamulan Kamya.

Vipers then held firm to secure three valuable points as they continue their push for a record-extending eighth league title.

For UPDF, the defeat was their 13th in 20 matches, leaving them second from bottom in 15th place with just 13 points and firmly in the relegation zone.