Vipers established a healthy lead with a 2-0 victory over KCCA in the first leg semifinal of the 2016 Uganda Cup at Nakivubo on Wednesday.
Alfred Leku and Erisa Ssekisambu scored Vipers goals to put one foot in the finals of the Cup and reduce pressure on under-fire coach George Nsimbe.
Manager Mike Mutebi’s KCCA must now score three goals without reply or two to force a penalty shootout in the return leg on Sunday if they are to achieve the elusive League and Cup double.
Across town in Bugonga, visitors Onduparaka continued their fairytale bY taking a 1-0 advantage over Entebbe, lethal striker Muhammad Shaban scoring the lone goal on 10 minutes.
Onduparara are favourites to complete the task in Arua at their intimidating Green Light Stadium despite the slender lead.
At Nakivubo, KCCA struggled to march Vipers pace and fluidity and the scoreline could have been bigger had Leku and Ssekisambu been more clinical in front of goal.
The Buikwe side duly went in front on eight minutes after beautiful interplay between Leku and Ssekisambu, the latter rounding KCCA goalkeeper Benjamin Ochan to slot into an open net.
Leku then capitalised on a defensive blunder by hosts’ centre back Tmothy Awany to double Vipers advantage deep the second half and make the KCCA’s task in Buikwe on Sunday an even bigger mountain. “We have 90% chances to go through,” said Ssekisambu.