By 
Vipers have continued their winless run in the CAF Champions League as they lost 1-0 to neighbours Simba Sports Club at the St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende on Saturday evening.
This was the first game under the floodlights in Kitende and brought in a crowd that consisted of both Vipers and Simba fans not forgetting the students.
In a game where the venoms were the dominant force Simba stuck to their plan and it surely yielded results pushing the hosts to the bottom of Group C.
With in the first three minutes of the game, Vipers had a lot of play in the Simba half an action that portrayed what both teams were likely to do all game.
A few minutes later, Vipers nearly paid for a Livingston Mulondo blunder that had gifted Forward Kibu Denis Prosper a chance to earn himself the match’s first shot, outside the box but went inches away from the upright.
In the twelth minute, an explosive Milton Kariisa made a daring run from his half penetrating the Simba back line, after a one – two touch with Karim Watambala but failed to progress past Simba’s Joash Onyango.
Vipers was then presented with a glorious chance after a good run once again by Milton Karisa but passed the ball behind Yunus Sentamu who pulled back to put away a shot onto the Simba defenders who had recovered.
20 minutes on the clock, Simba scored the match’s first goal through an unmarked Henock Inonga at the back post with a stamp on the ball on the line after a header in the top left corner.
As the first stanza came to an end, a frustrated Vipers who failed to convert a number of their chances lost their Captain Milton Kariisa to a thigh injury only to bring on Ibrahim Orit in the 45th minute .
In the second half, Vipers made a double change introducing both Martin Kizza and Serge Mwenge for Karim Watambala and Abdu Lumala.
Both entrants in Mwenge and Kizza had instant in uplifting of pace and energy upfront. Vipers exerted more and more pressure with Yunus and Orit coming close but the visitors stayed strong.
Later on, Beto Bianchi was forced to eject left back Disan Galiwango to add on more attacking options in Desire Tety but this looked like it cooled the hosts intensity pushing him in front alone.
At the end, it was a disappointing result once for Beto’s side who have gone 540 minutes without scoring in full time.
For Robertihno’s men, they scooped all the three points to sink Vipers bottom of group C and will hope to make it a double when they host the Venoms in the return leg.
Starting Line ups.
Vipers SC
Alfred Mudekereza (GK), Ashraf Mandela, Dissan Galiwango, Livingstone Mulondo, Hillary Mukundane, Sentamu Siraje, Karim Watambala, Bright Anukani, Milton Karisa, Yunus Sentamu, Abdu Lumala
Simba SC
Salum Manula (GK), Salum Kapombe, Sadio Kanoute, Hussein Mohamed, Achieng Onyango, Chota Chama, Yasin Mzamiru, Moses Phiri, Inonga Baka, Denis Kibu, Saidi Ntibazonkiza
Group C standings
- Raja Casablanca ?? 9pts
- Horoya ?? – 4
- Simba ?? – 3
- Vipers ?? – 1
Vipers next group C games:
•Simba (A) – March 8
•Raja (H) – March 18
•Horoya (A) – March 31
