Ankole Lions leave ‘poor’ Vipers fangless, Express atop UPL log
Agony Of Defeat. Vipers’ Musa Ssali and Richard Basangwa (R) suck in the pain after going down 3-2 to Mbarara City at Kitende on May 18, 2021. PHOTO/EDDIE CHICCO
What you need to know:
Scenting blood, Mbarara then played like the Ankole Lions they are. Substitute Bashir Mutanda let fly from distance for the second in 64th minute.Man-of-the-match Jude Ssemugabi then rolled in the third to complete the unlikely turnaround as Kajoba singled out defender Rashid Toha for his rustiness. And despite bold Kajoba’s claims of expecting more twists with rivals dropping points in the remaining games, his team cannot be trusted to take advantage.
URA will return to the top of the Startimes Uganda Premier League if they can pick maximum points away to relegation-threatened Kyetume in Nakisunga today.
But before they do, Express can enjoy their moment in the sun after a sixth consecutive victory catapulted them to the top yesterday. The Red Eagles impressed in a 4-0 rout of Busoga United secured courtesy of a hat-trick from Geoffrey Lwesibawa to move to 55 points.
They would still have been unable to claim top position if it were not for a spectacular second half collapse by reigning champions Vipers.
No Fangs
The Venoms lost their fangs, squandering a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to visiting Mbarara City at the St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende.
The result saw Vipers drop to third on 53 points. More importantly, URA (54) can move two clear of Express. A win for URA will see Vipers drift five points off the pace with five games left.
For now, Express hold the aces after their dominant display against a much-changed Busoga team from the one that lost 3-0 to Myda and started resiliently.
They were breached in the 21st minute. Winger Lwesibawa scored after Michael Nantamu, in the hosts’ goal failed to hold on a Martin Kizza strike.
Hungry for more
The Eagles that looked hungrier and the second which came just seven minutes later.
Kizza dashed to the right wing, picked out Lwesibawa, often berated for his lack of a finishing touch and poor decision making. He met the cross on the volley sending the ball into the roof.
That made Lwesibawa even hungrier. He finished the treble for coach Wasswa Bbosa’s side when he connected with midfielder Charles Musiige’s delivery.
“I’m happy for the win and my first [league] hat trick. We hope to keep this rhythm,” Lwesibawa said.
Kambale’ moment
Poster boy Eric Kambale also had his moment goal number 13. Shortly after the hour, he twisted and turned defenders the slotted home the fourth.
For good day’s job, Bbosa had the luxury of resting key men.
“Busoga has a very good team and put up some resilience and are good with the ball. We managed to get them off guard,” Bbosa explained.
“We have won but remain with five games which we must win to achieve our targets.”
Game of two halves
While the six-time champions’ result was straightforward, the same cannot be said of the Vipers/Mbarara. “For us to get a 2-0 lead and then concede three goals is unacceptable,” Vipers coach Fred Kajoba lamented. “But we also had several injuries defensively that also played a part.”
Vipers looked like world beaters in the first half particularly whenever Allan Kayiwa and Paul Mucurezi were on the ball as they run rings around the opposition with some crisp passing.
This resulted into two goals, a league-leading 16th for Yunus Ssentamu and a 10th for Mucurezi. But they fell apart in the second half once Solomon Okwalinga pulled a goal back from the penalty spot following a handball.
UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE
Yesterday’s results
Kitara 3-1 Myda
Busoga United 0-4 Express
Onduparaka 0-0 Bright Stars
Vipers 2-3 Mbarara City
Wakiso Giants 2-1 Bul
Today’s fixtures – 4pm
Kyetume vs. URA, Nakisunga
UPDF vs. KCCA, Bombo
Police vs. SC Villa, Lugogo
(Live On Sanyuka TV)
SUPL Table Standings
p w d l f a pts
1. Express 25 16 7 2 40 13 55
2. URA 24 16 6 2 39 16 54
3. Vipers 25 16 5 4 55 21 53
4. KCCA 24 12 5 7 46 18 41
5. Bright Stars 25 11 8 6 39 25 41
6. Police 24 11 5 8 48 28 38
7. Wakiso Giants25 7 12 6 40 32 33
8. UPDF 24 10 3 11 30 35 33
9. SC Villa 24 8 8 8 26 27 32
10. Mbarara City25 8 8 9 26 33 32
11. Onduparaka 25 8 4 13 24 42 28
12. BUL 25 7 6 12 30 39 27
13. Busoga Utd 25 6 8 11 20 41 26
14. Kyetume 24 4 8 12 26 43 20
15. Myda 25 3 5 17 30 69 14
16. Kitara 25 3 4 18 33 70 13
