Villa rally to edge five-goal thriller

Selected Wednesday results

SC Villa 3-2 Wakiso Giants

Soltilo Bright Stars 1-1 NEC

SC Villa are back in fourth place in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League table after a cracking 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Wakiso Giants on Wednesday evening.

Andrew Samson Kigozi and Hassan Ssenyonjo scored in either half to give the visitors at Wankulukuku – Wakiso Giants – a 2-0 lead inside 51 minutes, but Ronald Ssekiganda, Umar Lutalo and second half substitute Reagan Mpande orchestrated a remarkable comeback.

Villa’s 13th win in 26 matches moves them back to fourth place on 48 points – same marks as Kitara in third, and one behind leaders BUL and second-placed Vipers SC.

Only five points separate the top from sixth-placed NEC, with all the top six having played the same number of games. They are all left with just three matches to play.

Wakiso remain two places above relation on 29 points and with three matches to go. 

Kigozi put the visitors ahead on 40 minutes, completing a breathtaking counterattack with a lethal left foot shot on the edge of the 18-yard box to beat goalkeeper Braddy Wokorach to his left. 

The half time lead was quickly doubled by Ssenyonjo just six minutes into the second period to send Villa into disarray. 

And it wasn’t just a goal. It was a beautifully constructed goal, which was emphatically finished off.

Shariph Kimbowa dazzled his man down the left, pulling away from him and putting in an inviting, low cross, which was watched by three Jogoo players as Ssenyonjo advanced.

And it is Ssenyonjo who was first to it just outside the 18-yard box, evading his first man, and then the next before completing his day’s job by calmly placing it past an onrushing Wokorach for 2-0 on 51 minutes.

It looked like Wakiso were headed for an emphatic win, here. But not quite! The hosts pulled one back through Ssekiganda five minutes after the hour.

The move was initiated by Villa captain Kenneth Ssemakula, who teed on Umar Lutalo. Lutalo then released Gavin Kizito on the right.

The right back then powered in a loaded cross, which was met with an equally determined header from Ssekiganda. One-two. Game on!

Villa now had the momentum and they continued pushing. Their pressure yielded 10 minutes from full time when they won a penalty, which Lutalo emphatically converted for 2-2.

The Jogoos completed their comeback five minutes later when Mpande controlled Patrick Jonah Kakande’s poorly hit shot inside the penalty box and struck the ball home in a spin for a 3-2 victory. 

Elsewhere, NEC got a set-back in any slim title hopes they might harbour after the league debutants were held 1-1 at Soltilo Bright Stars.

Marvin Kavuma gave the visitors the lead with eight minutes left to play at Kavumba but David Kiiza struck at the death to earn Bright Stars a point. NEC are sixth on 44 points while Bright Stars are four places below on 31.