By 
Uganda Premier League
- Vipers SC 1-0 Lugazi FC
- Bright Stars 3-1 Police
Vipers SC returned to winning ways in the Startimes Uganda Premier League with a hard fought 1-0 victory over Lugazi FC at St. Mary’s Stadium Kitende on Thursday evening.
The win secured by Abdul Karim Watambala’s second half goal, sent the Venoms five points clear at the top of the table, reaffirming their title ambitions.
Vipers SC, despite dominating possession, struggled to break down a resilient Lugazi FC defense in the first half. The home side created several promising opportunities, but they were either thwarted by the outstanding goalkeeping of Juma Mutebi or missed the target altogether.
Striker Isaac Ogwang had a particularly frustrating half, being denied twice by Mutebi, who was in fine form between the posts.
In addition to Ogwang’s missed opportunities, Emmanuel Obua made a crucial clearance off the line to keep the scores level. Marvin Youngman and Yunus Sentamu also had their chances but couldn’t find the breakthrough.
Lugazi FC, despite being under pressure for most of the half, defended resolutely, keeping the score tied at 0-0 as the teams went into the break.
The second half saw Vipers maintain their attacking intent, and it wasn’t long before they found the all important goal.
In the 68th minute, Abdul Karim Watambala marked his return from suspension in style, unleashing a powerful strike that beat Mutebi to give Vipers the lead.
The goal sparked wild celebrations among the home fans, who had been waiting patiently for their team to make the breakthrough.
Despite the goal, Vipers continued to press for more. Ogwang, Youngman, and Pedro Sukuya all had chances to double the lead, but their efforts either went wide or were saved by Mutebi, who continued to impress in goal for Lugazi.
The win was crucial for Vipers, who were coming off a shocking 1-0 loss to Villa in their previous match. The result moved them to 52 points, five points clear of second-placed NEC, who are set to face UPDF on Friday.
With the victory, Vipers will now look ahead to their next challenge, a trip to Express FC at Nakivubo, as they continue their pursuit of the Uganda Premier League title.
For Lugazi FC, the loss was a bitter blow to their survival hopes, it marked their second consecutive defeat and they remain in 11th place with 26 points just above the relegation zone. Their performance at Kitende showed the challenges they face in securing enough points to remain in the top flight, and they will need to regroup quickly to avoid relegation.
Vipers SC’s focus now shifts to their upcoming fixtures with the team eager to maintain their lead at the top. Meanwhile, Lugazi FC must quickly find a way to arrest their slump as they continue their battle to stay in the league.
