Vipers SC missed the chance to further cut KCCA’s lead at the Azam Uganda Premier League (UPL) summit as they came from behind to draw 2-2 against 10-man SC Villa at Buikwe Stadium on Friday.
But coach George ‘Best’ Nsimbe’s men will have been thankful for that one point after Saddam Juma’s penalty 11 minutes from time clawed it from the jaws of defeat.
Umar Kasumba and Isaac Muleme scored for Villa, while Erisa Ssekisambu grabbed Vipers’ first in a game that saw Jogoos player, Lwanga Taddeo, sent off for a second bookable offence late in the first half.
The result sees Vipers move to 35 points – three fewer that KCCA – and Villa 27, but the duo stay put in second and 10th places respectively.
Villa took the lead inside the first 15 minutes through Kasumba before Muleme’s stunning free-kick on 68 minutes for 2-0 lead threatened to take the game away from the hosts.
But Vipers regrouped and pulled one back two minutes later through Ssekisambu. The moment that went in, anxiety reined in Villa ranks.
Vipers sniffed it. Soon the hosts pressure paid off as Villa conceded a penalty 11 minutes from time and Juma duly converted it to rescue a point.