By 
Former Vipers SC forward Henry Kitegenyi scored the all important goal as Mbarara City defeated defending champions, Viper SC 1-0 at the Kakyeka Stadium, Mbarara to hand the venoms’ their first league loss of the season.
Vipers SC struggled alot to impose themselves in the first half as they failed to pose any considerable threat to the Mbarara City backline.
Their best goalscoring chances in the opening half fell to Congolese Cesar Manzoki Lobi when he headed onto the upright after a well driven Paul Mucurezi cornerkick
While the home side, Mbarara City sploit two brilliant chances to break the deadlock before the break when Wol Makeuth and Bebe Swalik Ssegujja failed from point blank ranges in the closing quarter of the half.
Makueth failed to connect well with Henry Kitegenyi’s shot with just the Vipers goalie Bashir Sekagya to beat in the 23rd minute while just before the halftime break, Bebe curved his effort just agnozingly wide after Makueth set him up in the box.
The Ankole lions continued to pose all the offensive threat to the Vipers backline and with five minutes into the second half, they got their reward when former Vipers SC forward Kitegenyi put them ahead after holding off Bashir Asiku to loop his effort past the on-rushing Sekagya and into the back of the net.
Kitegenyi had a chance to double his scoreline four minutes later, but the January Ankole lion signing guided his effort away from the goal after running into Semugabi’s header.
Bashir Sekagya then made a brilliant save to deny Jasper Aheebwa exquisite freekick when he parried it over the bar for Mbarara’s cornerkick.
With his side trailing, Vipers SC head coach Fred Kajoba made four quick substitutes, bringing on Jamil Kalisa, Rashid Toha, Allan Kayiwa and Denis Mwemezi for Karim Watambala Joseph Dhata , Moses Saali and Paul Mucurezi in a bid to help his side impose more pressure upfront so as to find the leveller.
After the substitutes, Vipers started dominating proceedings with Orit and Sentamu orchestrating all the venom attacks but Muhammad Ssekeba was superb in the Mbarara goal, denying the duo on multiple occasions.
Today’s loss to Mbarara City is Vipers first league loss of the season after 12 games, having won eight of their opening 11 games before today.
They now second on the SUPL log with 27 points, a point behind new leaders, Express FC who defeated Busoga United 1-0 on Friday evening at the Betway Muteesa II Stadium-Wankulukuku.
Meanwhile Mbarara City have garnered just their second win this season and now up to 11 position on the log with 13 points.
