Mugume wonder goal rescues KCCA point at Vipers

StarTimes Uganda Premier League

Friday, November 9, 2024 Results 

Maroons 2-1 URA

Vipers SC 1-1 KCCA

Ashraf Mugume scored a stunning beauty in injury time to earn KCCA a crucial point in the 1-1 draw played away to Vipers SC at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, on Saturday.

Milton Karisa had given the Venoms a half time lead when he headed home Derrick Ndahiro’s cross but Mugume intervened late on to settle the thrilling encounter under floodlights.

The result in this StarTimes Uganda Premier League top of the table clash ensured KCCA stayed at the summit on 18 points, one more than Vipers in second, both having played eight matches apiece.

KCCA had come into this encounter on the back of a 5-0 thrashing of UPDF while Vipers were on a four-match winning run, including a 3-1 away victory over Mbarara City. 

But there was no separating the two sides here at Kitende. It was largely an end to end affair where both sides went at each other throughout the match.

The breakthrough for the hosts came just before half time.

A throw-in on the left was quickly returned to Ndahiro, who whipped in an inviting cross for skipper Karisa to head Vipers ahead,  leaving KCCA goalkeeper Mutwalibi Mugolofa stranded.

Allan Okello for Vipers and KCCA’s Sadat Anaku led their respective charges’ push after the half time break but it is the visitors that got the rewards at the death.

With the clock ticking down and Vipers coach John Luyinda on the verge of victory over his counterpart, Abdullah Mubiru – a moment of magic happened. 

Man of the Match Joel Sserunjogi sent in a searching ball and it found Mugume just on the edge of the penalty box in the third minute of added time. 

With just enough men around him to stop the KCCA midfielder, Mugume improvised, controlling the ball in one movement and lifting in it over and beyond Vipers goalkeeper Denis Kiggundu to send KCCA fans into frenzied celebrations.

Maroons pip URA

In the day’s other match, Mujahid Ogama scored in the second minute and Junior Omirambe added another – a penalty – on 62 minutes as Maroons edged URA 2-1 in Luzira.

Bruno Bunyaga got URA’s consolation a minute later but Maroons held on for all three points. 

The win moved Maroons to nine points and two places up to 11th, while URA are two places up in ninth on 11.