Vipers SC have been pressured to accept a second consecutive Uganda Premier League draw after a 1-1 consequence in opposition to URA FC at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, in a match that examined the leaders’ consistency within the title race.
Regardless of coming into the fixture as clear favourites and taking part in at house, Vipers have been made to work laborious by a disciplined URA facet that executed their sport plan successfully, particularly within the first half.
The guests took a shock lead within the thirty fifth minute when defender Ronald Otti powered house a header from a well-delivered free-kick by Isma Mugulusi, beating goalkeeper Denis Kiggundu. The aim silenced the Kitende crowd.
URA continued to threaten, with John Harmless Kisolo testing Kiggundu from distance, however the Vipers goalkeeper stood agency to stop additional harm earlier than halftime.
After a woeful opening half, Vipers got here out for the second half with renewed depth and located the equalizer simply 4 minutes after the restart. Arafat Kiza Usama rose highest to go house within the forty ninth minute after sustained strain, with the transfer stemming from a chaotic sequence that included Hilary Mukundane’s effort crashing off the crossbar following a protracted throw-in from Ashraf Mandela.
That aim shifted momentum again towards the house facet, who started to push URA deeper into their very own half.
Vipers created a number of alternatives to finish the comeback, with Abdul-Karim Watambala coming shut from a free kick within the 67th minute, narrowly lacking the goal.
Each groups made tactical modifications as the sport progressed. Vipers launched Yunus Junior Sentamu and Glodi Beyuku so as to add attacking spark, whereas URA responded with Fred Amaku, George Masembe, and later Norman Namanya to stabilize and handle the closing phases.
URA have been additionally pressured right into a setback when defender Shiny Joseph Vuni suffered a muscle pressure and needed to be substituted.
Regardless of sustained strain within the remaining minutes, Vipers couldn’t discover a breakthrough, as URA defended deep and held their form properly.
The draw marks Vipers’ second consecutive stalemate within the league, a slight dip in kind for the desk leaders because the title race intensifies. They now transfer to 60 factors from 27 matches, nonetheless sustaining a five-point hole on the high over second-placed KCCA FC.
URA FC, in the meantime, climb to 26 factors and stay in eleventh place.
Within the subsequent video games, Vipers will go to Police FC in Kira on Tuesday whereas URA will battle relegation positioned Calvary at Ham Stadium.
