WILL SC VILLA OVERTAKE KCCA: VIPERS WIN AS CALVARY SINK AT THE BOTTOM
SC Villa and Vipers SC secure crucial wins to stay within touching distance of league leaders KCCA before the mid-season break.
On Wednesday, SC Villa and Vipers SC did just enough to keep pace with KCCA, who are leading the StarTimes Uganda Premier League. Meanwhile, Maroons had the most impressive showing, easily defeating Express at home.
SC Villa managed to stay close to the Startimes Uganda Premier League leaders before the month-long break, eking out a 1-0 victory against Calvary, who are at the bottom of the league. The game took place on Wednesday evening at the Fufa Kadiba Stadium in Mengo.
Aslam Ssemakula scored a penalty in the fifth minute after Najib Yiga was fouled by Stephen Oriokot. Despite a determined effort from Calvary, who were looking to salvage at least a point, no more goals were scored.
This win puts Villa at 23 points, just three behind KCCA and one behind Vipers. They were likely thankful for that early goal, as Calvary threatened to take points off yet another major team, having held Vipers the previous week.
Calvary paid the price for a shaky start at the Kadiba Stadium. They almost fell behind in the first minute when Frank Ssebufu went through on goal, forcing Calvary's goalie, Hadji Shukuru, to make a fingertip save.
Around the 15-minute mark, the striker also missed connecting with a cross from Frank Mulimi, as Calvary struggled against the intense pressure from Villa.
Gradually, Calvary got into the game, forcing Villa's goalie, David Lukwago, to make saves from Daniel Opio and Lawrence Olaboro before halftime.
Calvary continued to match their opponents, playing well from their own end. The fact that they've only managed to score six goals (the fewest in the division) continued to plague them.
This loss leaves them at the very bottom of the table with only three points from 11 games. They now face a long trip back to Yumbe and an even longer struggle to avoid being relegated.
Earlier in the day, the current champions, Vipers, also did their part, securing a 2-1 away win against Lugazi in Najjembe before the break.
Usama Arafat gave Vipers an early lead in the eighth minute, tapping in the rebound after Milton Karisa's header was saved by goalie Juma Mutebi.
This was Usama's fourth goal, continuing his good run with Vipers after moving from KCCA.
Later, substitute Yunus Sentamu scored Vipers' second goal in the 74th minute, running onto a long pass from Robin Kane Hney and lifting the ball past Mutebi.
Lugazi managed to pull one back a minute before the end when Ashiraf Mulindi's shot, which seemed weak, was not controlled by Alfred Mudekereza.
KCCA BOUNCE BACK: KASASIRO BOYS OVERCOME RECENT SLUMP WITH A GRITTY 2-1 BUL WIN
KCCA are back: Discover how Ivan Ahimbisibwe and Herbert Achai secured a 2-1 win over Bul to rejoin the UPL title race.
Ivan Ahimbisibwe and Herbert Achai both found the net for KCCA, either side of a Denis Sewagudde goal, in a win that really should let coaches Ssenyondo and Jackson Magera breathe a little easier.
Zeal. Hunger. Character. Attitude. That’s what KCCA coach Brian Ssenyondo wanted to see after his team got handed their third loss in five games last week, a 3-1 defeat to NEC that stung. This time, he finally got it. KCCA showed all those qualities and pulled off a gritty 2-1 victory over Bul in the Uganda Premier League at Phillip Omondi Stadium on Wednesday night.
Ahimbisibwe and Achai scored for KCCA, with Sewagudde briefly levelling for Bul, and the result means Ssenyondo and Magera can at least feel the pressure lift for now.
But maybe more importantly, this win drags KCCA back into the title race. They’re now sitting on 33 points from 17 games, just five behind leaders Vipers.
The game started off tight, both sides feeling each other out, but Bul looked a little sharper early on. Even so, it was KCCA who broke the deadlock in the 31st minute with their first real chance. They overloaded the right, Saidi Mayanja whipped in a cross, and Ahimbisibwe, timing his run just right, dived in for a header. That’s his seventh goal of the season, and honestly, he’s been one of the few bright spots among the club’s new signings.
KCCA then had to dig in. Achai made a crucial block to deny Karim Ndugwa after a cross from Reagan Kalyowa. But just before halftime, the tricky Sewagudde bent in a free kick that completely wrong-footed KCCA keeper Mutwalibi Mugolofa, and Bul were level.
After the break, KCCA rediscovered their missing edge. Four minutes into the second half, left-back Achai stormed forward, played a quick one-two with Ashraf Mugume, then hammered the ball past Bul’s Ikara at the near post.
From there, KCCA held Bul at bay, sealing a rare home-and-away double over their Njeru-based rivals, who remain eighth on 20 points.
Earlier that day, Lugazi captain Richard Ayiko grabbed the winner as his side edged UPDF 1-0 in Najjembe, giving them a six-point cushion above the relegation zone. And at the bottom, Calvary finally picked up their fifth point of the season with a goalless draw against Express in Yumbe.
TITLE RACE HEAT: HOW VIPERS DROPPING HOME POINTS GIVES KITARA A CHANCE TO STRIKE
Vipers SC stay top of the UPL with 38 points! Discover how Warren Buule’s equaliser for NEC FC shook up the title race at Kitende.
NEC are stuck in seventh place with 24 points from 17 games. Vipers, even after dropping home points for just the second time this season, hang on to the top spot with 38.
Honestly, NEC have drawn more games than they'd like, nine out of 17. That’s a lot of stalemates in the Startimes Uganda Premier League. But this time, their 1-1 draw away to the reigning champs, Vipers, felt like more than just another point. It actually meant something, especially under the lights at St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende on Tuesday evening.
Vipers came out flying. They grabbed the lead early and pretty much ran the first half. Six minutes in, Milton Karisa latched onto a slick through ball from Karim Watambala and curled a lovely left-footed shot past NEC keeper Hannington Ssebwalunyo. That was Karisa’s sixth goal of the season, and for a minute there, it looked like the Vipers were about to run riot, just like they did in their 4-0 demolition of Buhimba last time at home.
NEC looked shaky. Coach Badru Kaddu had seen enough and made two early changes, bringing on Shamir Kimwero and Joseph Dhata for Rashid Kawawa and Daniel Shabene inside 25 minutes. The switch helped steady things, but NEC didn’t really come to life until the second half.
Then, with 15 minutes left, substitute Emmanuel Kulanga swung in a cross, and Warren Buule was there at the far post to head in the equaliser. That goal was well earned; NEC were much better after the break. Richard Basangwa, playing up front, kept his old team busy and even got Bady Da Silva and Enoch Ssebagala booked. Ssebagala didn’t last much longer, getting subbed off after a rough tackle on his former side.
NEC has been busy in the mid-season transfer window. They’ve already added six new faces, and more are on the way. Sam Ssekamatte, who scored five goals for UPDF in the first round, watched from the stands with the rest of the unused squad.
So, NEC holds on to seventh, Vipers stay top, but Kitara could shake things up if they beat URA on Thursday. This title race isn’t done yet.
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