Vipers SC have been compelled to accept a second consecutive Uganda Premier League draw after a 1-1 consequence towards 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 enjoying at dwelling, Vipers have been made to work arduous by a disciplined URA facet that executed their recreation plan successfully, particularly within the first half.
The guests took a shock lead within the thirty fifth minute when defender Ronald Otti powered dwelling 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 forestall 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 move dwelling within the forty ninth minute after sustained stress, with the transfer stemming from a chaotic sequence that included Hilary Mukundane’s effort crashing off the crossbar following an extended 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 levels.
URA have been additionally compelled right into a setback when defender Vibrant Joseph Vuni suffered a muscle pressure and needed to be substituted.
Regardless of sustained stress within the last 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.