Villa, Vipers keep pace as Maroons rout Express

StarTimes Uganda Premier League | Wednesday Results

Lugazi 1-2 Vipers SC 

Maroons 4-0 Express

Mbarara City 1-0 URA

SC Villa 1-0 Calvary

SC Villa and Vipers SC avoided costly slips as the title race tightened further following Tuesday victories for KCCA and Police. 

Both contenders collected narrow wins to keep the pressure on at the StarTimes Uganda Premier League summit, as surprises elsewhere reshaped the mid-table picture.

At Najjembe, defending champions Vipers SC ground out a 2-1 victory away to Lugazi to remain firmly in the chase. 

The Kitende side are second on 24 points – two behind leaders KCCA, with a game in hand, while Lugazi remain third from bottom on 10 marks.

Vipers struck early through Arafat Usama, who headed in after Milton Karisa’s effort was parried following Enock Luyima’s teasing delivery from the left. 

The Venoms controlled long spells but had to wait until the 74th minute to double their advantage, Yunus Sentamu finishing clinically after being set up by Robin Kane.

Lugazi threatened a late twist when Ashiraf Mulindi pulled one back in the 89th minute, turning home David Bagoole’s assist, but Vipers held on to secure three vital points. 

Villa edge it… just

SC Villa also did just enough under the lights at FUFA Stadium, Kadiba, edging bottom side Calvary 1-0. 

The decisive moment arrived inside five minutes when Aslam Ssemakula converted from the penalty spot after captain Stephen Oriokot fouled in a restricted area. 

Despite dominating possession in the opening half and creating several chances, Calvary could not find a way past Villa’s defence. 

The Jogoos stay firmly in the title conversation in third place on 23 points, while Calvary remain bottom and winless with just three marks from 11 matches.

The day’s top performance

The performance of the day came earlier at Luzira Ground, where Maroons tore apart Express 4-0. 

Raymond Walugembe opened the scoring in the 26th minute from Brian Nkuubi’s corner before Emmanuel Obua took centre stage, netting twice in quick succession to put the game beyond reach before half-time. 

Nkuubi capped a commanding display with a thunderous strike in stoppage time, punishing an Express error. 

Obua’s brace earned him Man of the Match as Maroons towered above Express in seventh on 15 points, three ahead of the Red Eagles. 

Mbarara nick it

In Kamwenge, Mbarara City claimed a valuable 1-0 win over URA, Henry Kitegenyi’s 61st-minute penalty proving decisive in a tense contest.

Mbarara’s only second win of the campaign lifted them two places out of the relegation zone to 13th on 10 points, while URA – who suffered their fourth defeat in 11 matches – are 10th on 11 marks.

Matchday 11 wraps up on Thursday, with Entebbe UPPC welcoming Kitara to Bugonga Fisheries Ground.