Uganda Premier League
Vipers SC 2-0 Bright Stars FC
St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende
Wednesday, 03-03-2021
Vipers SC moved back top of the Uganda Premier League on Wednesday after taking care of Bright Stars 2-0 at Kitende.
Ceaser Manzoki and substitute Jamil Kalisa scored the only goals of the game.
Manzoki netted just after the hour mark, capitalising on comical defending by the visitors while Kalisa poked home from close range, deep into additional time.
It was a game in which Vipers failed to give a proper account of themselves but somehow got the job done also one that saw Ibrahim Orit see a goal disallowed before Manzoki’s opener.
For Bright Stars, they never really looked like a side capable of getting anything from the game as they created close to nothing in the final third.
The victory sees Vipers retain the league’s leadership on 27 points, two ahead of second placed Express with just 11 games played so far.
Bright Stars remain 9th with 14 points and have now lost three games.
Manzoki, Kalisa pop up with the goods for the Venoms
Vipers have been outstanding since the season started after winning seven and drawing three of their 10 games going into Wednesday’s contest.
Also being one of just two sides yet to lose a game, the Venoms must have been confident of taking a three points at the end oft90 minutes.
However, it had to take them over an hour to inflict telling damage on the visitors.
They looked over-confident and seemingly satisfied with having more of the ball and struggled to curb out openings.
Striker Yunus Ssentamu who had scored five goal in as many games since returning to Vipers in January was part of a four-man attack and as expectedly, the most realistic hope in terms of scoring but missed three good chances to give Vipers the lead.
First he volleyed Mucurezi’s cross over, then side footed the former Mbarara City forward’s free kick before heading over from a good position inside the six-yard box.
With Ssentamu struggling, the others were also doing the same as Mucurezi planted a header over Disan Galiwango’s cross wide, Manzoki volleyed over Orit shot over in speculative fashion.
Just before Manzoki scored, Vipers had a goal disallowed for a foul on the keeper after the Congolese striker bundled into Edwian Kiwanuka for the ball to fall into Orit’s path to side foot home.
Vipers were still struggling to create openings and had Bright Stars to thank for offering a helping hand in Manzoki’s goal.
The visitors failed to deal with Paul Willa’s cross and Kiwanuka somehow failed to collect the ball before it fell into Derrick Ngoobi’s path who fumbled with it and instead teed up Manzoki to bundle into an empty net.
After finding the opener, Vipers went for the kill as they sent on the duo of Muhammad Shaban and Allan Kayiwa to add fresh legs to their attack.
The move nearly paid off instantly as Kayiwa made a brilliant run down the left before setting up Orit who somehow found the skys while inside the six-yard box when it looked easier for him to poke into the back of the net.
Deep into extra time, Kalisa who had come on minutes before, collected from Shaban and poked into the net to secure the points with what was virtually the last kick of the game.
Stars fail to star at Kitende
Bright Stars have had a rejuvenated last few months after starting poorly with just a point in three opening games.
Baker Mbowa’s side came into Wednesday’s game on the back of a seven game unbeaten run and must have fancied themselves to take home at least a point.
Playing the Underdogs-tag, they looked content with the home side enjoying more of the ball and resorted to trying to hit the Venoms on the counter.
Joseph Akandwanaho, Emmanuel Loki and Samuel Ssekamate were looking good on the ball but did not create anything meaningful especially in the opening period.
The visitors first real chance of the game fell to Loki, early in the second half, but Halid Lwaliwa made a last ditch challenge to stop him from shooting at goal.
Joseph Marvin also blasted over from distance while Akandwanaho saw a low effort fumbled out for just a corner by Bashir Ssekagya.
In their next games, Vipers are away to Mbarara City FC on Saturday while Bright Stars host Onduparaka FC on the same day.
How both teams started
Vipers SC
Bashir Ssekagya (GK), Paul Willa, Disan Galiwango, Bashir Asiku, Halid Lwaliwa, Musa Ssali, Paul Mucurezi, Karim Watambala, Ceaser Manzoki, Yunus Ssentamu, Ibrahim Orit.
Bright Stars FC
Edwin Kiwanuka (GK), Andrew Kaggwa, Ronald Nkonge, Derrick Ngoobi, Warren Bbule, Allan Katwe, Joseph Marvin, Joseph Janjali, Emmanuel Loki, Samuel Ssekamate, Joseph Akandwanaho.
