Vipers SC 2 – 1 KCCA
Sadolin Paints 1 – 0 JMC Hippos
Vipers condemned Azam Uganda Premier League (AUPL) defending champions KCCA to a 2-1 defeat to go second on the log at Nakivubo Stadium on Friday.
Tony Odur and Deus Bukenya’s first half goals were enough to help Vipers to their fourth win and subject KCCA to their second defeat in eight matches. Geoffrey Sserunkuma got KCCA’s consolation at the death.
Victory for Vipers moves them to 15 points, three fewer than leaders KCCA, who were outthought and outplayed by coach Abdallah Mubiru’s men.
Manager Mike Mutebi’s KCCA, 3-1 victors over Bul midweek, came into this encounter having won six in seven games while Vipers had clinched only three and were being talked out of the title race by some cynics.
But it is the latter that showed poise and prose here, dominating the midfield and leaving KCCA only to feed off the crumbs.
Vipers expansive and probing play saw them take the lead on 14 minutes when Odur beat Benjamin Ochan from close range.
Vipers were threatening to run riot here, KCCA in fives and sixes. Another wave of attack saw the hosts double their lead when Bukenya’s screamer outside the box on 21 minutes also evaded Ochan.
KCCA marksman Robert Ssentongo, scorer of three goals in two matches, was well contained by Vipers’ backline of Nicholas Wadada, Halid Lwaliwa, Shafiq Bakaki and Aggrey Madoi.
With time running out, Mutebi threw on Sserunkuma for defensive midfielder Isaac Kirabira.
But the substitution did not pay off until the 90th minute when the former Lweza striker pulled one back for KCCA. It was, however, only a consolation as Vipers held on for all three points.
In Jinja, hosts Sadolin Paints beat bottom side JMC Hippos 1-0 to temporarily jump out of the relegation zone. Fred Kyambadde scored the only goal on 55 minutes.