Vipers rout Mbale, KCCA, Villa settle for point each

StarTimes Uganda Premier League

Result, Friday, December 20, 2024

KCCA 1-1 SC Villa

Mbale Heroes 0-4 Vipers SC

The ping-pong between Vipers SC  and NEC at the top of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League continued on Friday as the former thrashed Mbale Heroes 4-0 to reclaim the summit.

Vipers go-to men, Milton Karisa and Allan Okello, were, well – the go-to men, again; each scoring a double at the Mbale Municipal Stadium.

Karisa gave the Venoms the lead after just 10 minutes before Vipers Fans Man of the Match, Okello, made it 2-0 just a minute into the second half.

Okello, scoring his 10th goal of the season to top the charts, got Vipers third and his second of the day on 74 minutes before Karisa completed the rout three minutes later.

Vipers eighth win in 13 matches – same as NEC – moved them to 28 points, leapfrogging the latter by a mark. Mbale, who were losing their eighth game in 13, remained second from bottom on just nine points.

Earlier in the day, Kampala’s fierce rivalry between hosts KCCA and SC Villa at the MTN Omondi Stadium could only end in a draw.

Sadat Anaku gave KCCA the lead after 63 minutes but Jonah Patrick Kakande struck back five minutes later to salvage a point for Villa.

The exchange of punches in the first half saw Kakande executing a rabona cross into the KCCA box, with the hosts clearing their lines, and Ettiene Katenga missing a glorious opportunity just before the break.

The breakthrough under the floodlights finally came just after the hour, Katenga drilling in a well-weighted cross from the left, which Anaku headed in to wild celebrations from the home fans.

Villa’s answer came from the other side of the pitch, Charles Lwanga beating his  men down the right before crossing for Kakande to tap in at the far post on 68 minutes.

This was both KCCA and Villa’s respective fifth draw in 13 matches. KCCA moved to 23 points, five behind leaders Vipers, but remained third on the log. Villa are seventh on 17 points.