Uganda Premier League
Kitara FC 0-3 Vipers SC
Masindi Municipal Stadium
Friday, 16-04-2021
Vipers SC continued their fine run of form as they beat Kitara FC 1-0 on Friday at the Masindi Municipal Stadium.
Yunus Ssentamu scored in either half before substitute Paul Mucurezi added a third off a direct free kick.
Ssentamu’s first came off a volleyed effort from Ibrahim Orit’s cross while the second was from a penalty after Daniel Okoyu handled Mucurezi’s goal bound effort in the area.
Mucurezi who replaced Jamil Karisa at the start of the second half curled in from just outside the box after Richard Banangwa was fouled.
Kitara who were hosting their first game at the venue, had some good chances to score but could not convert.
With URA FC defeating BUL FC 3-1 on the same day, Vipers remain top of the standings with 42 points, level with the Tax Collectors who have a lesser goal difference.
Vipers Continue March Towards Title Defence
Vipers SC have been one of the two best sides in Uganda for the last five or so years.
Having won the league title last season, they came into this one as outright favourites to win it again, especially with KCCA FC who are their usual competition, struggling.
However, at this point in the campaign, they are tangled in a three horse race alongside URA FC and Express FC.
Going into the game, the Tax Collectors had 39 points alongside the Venoms and Fred Kajoba’s side knew they had no room for error.
It was evident from the start that Vipers were the better side as they dominated possession and pinned the hosts in their half.
They created several chances in the early exchanges but Disan Galiwango saw his effort tipped over, Jamil Karisa ran through on goal but could not convert one-on-one with goalkeeper Isaac Akera, Orit’s shot from distance hit the bar while Richard Basangwa’s lobbed effort went just-wide.
The goal finally came on 31 minutes through Ssentamu who collected from Disan Galiwango and volleyed in on-the-turn to calm some nerves in the visitors corner.
The second came from a penalty which was dispatched by Ssentamu after a handball in the area.
With 16 minutes to play, Mucurezi scored from a direct free kick after a foul on Basangwa.
Vipers could have scored more but were wasteful in front of goal.
Orit shot over after Akera failed to hold onto a routine ball, Basangwa shot wide after racing through on goal before the Hippos forward saw an effort rattle the cross bar.
Kitara Edge Closer To Relegation
Kitara FC have found life in the top tier hard in their opening 18 games as they sit bottom of the pile with just five points from 18 games.
They went into Friday’s game on the back of four successive defeats and knew it would take a miracle of sorts for them to take anything from the contest against the leaders.
They frustrated the hosts for the first 30 minutes before Ssentamu opened the scoring.
Reserve goalkeeper Ivan Akera was the big reason as to why the Venoms took long before finding an opener as he stood firm to deny Galiwango, Ssentamu and Basangwa in the early exchanges.
However, after conceding the first goal, it always looked like they would he conceding again and in the end, losing 3-0 was what they could manage.
They had chances of their open to make the game more interesting but could not convert.
Ayub Bogere turned Kayondo inside and out but shot weakly at Ssekagya. Olara Nathan saw a volleyed effort cleared off the line before Edson Agondeze headed just-wide with Ssekagya stranded in no-man’s-land.
How both teams started
Kitara FC
Ivan Akera (GK), Yasin Mubiru, Rogers Lwebuga, Doca Musa, Maxwell Owachgiu, Daniel Ekoyu, Kyamanywa Ronald, Oloro Nathan, Ayub Bogere, Isaac Tumusiime, Edson Agondeze.
Vipers SC
Bashir Ssekagya (GK), Paul Willa, Aziz Kayondo, Livingstone Mulondo, Disan Galiwango, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Karim Watambala, Jamil Kalisa, Ibrahim Orit, Richard Basangwa, Yunus Ssentamu.
