Thursday results
Gaddafi 2-1 UPDF
Vipers SC 2-1 Kitara
A Bright Anukani brace helped StarTimes Uganda Premier League defending champions, Vipers SC, overcome battling Kitara 2-1 at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende on Thursday.
Jude Ssemugabi scored the visitors’ consolation under the floodlights as the league newcomers lost just their third match in 10.
Second-placed Vipers’ seventh victory in 10 games moves them within just two points of leaders BUL, who are on 25 – both teams having played the same number of matches.
Kitara remain fourth on the log with 19 points from 10 matches. Vipers had to sweat for their win, however, after going behind to Ssemugabi’s goal off a Denis Omedi assist on 12 minutes.
Omedi beat his man on the right and drove on into the box before splitting three Vipers defenders with a cut-back, which Ssemugabi easily rolled into an empty net.
But Vipers fought back to force the game into the half time break at 1-1 after Anukani converted a spot kick.
Vipers upped the ante immediately after the break, second half substitute Allan Okello breaking free in the middle of the park and running at Kitara defence before sliding the ball on for Anukani to complete his brace on 48 minutes.
Gaddafi win military battle
In the early evening, Gaddafi took the day in the battle of soldiers when they beat UPDF 2-1 at the Gaddafi Arena.
Thomas Ochungo and Benson Muhindo scored Gaddafi’s goals while Bright Vuni got UPDF’s consolation.
Gaddafi’s fourth win in 10 matches has them ninth on 13 points, while UPDF’s sixth defeat in 10 keeps them a place above relegation on eight points.