Uganda Premier League
Vipers SC 2-1 BUL FC
St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende
Tuesday, 22-10-2019
KITENDE – Vipers SC moved top of the Uganda Premier League for the first time this season after defeating BUL FC 2-1 on Tuesday afternoon.
It was a battle of the top two as BUL came into the contest sitting top, two points ahead of the Venoms.
However, Vipers came out on top thanks to goals by Frank ‘Zaga’ Tumwesige and Allan Kayiwa. Deogracious Ojok scored BUL’s only goal of the game, one that turned out to be only a consolation in the end.
Victory sees Vipers move onto 20 points for the season and are now one point ahead of BUL who slip into second.
Clinical Venoms get job done
Vipers were dominant in the early exchanges as they took charge of possession but were struggling to create clear openings.
With chances not falling perfectly, Bayo shot straight at Abdul Kimera in the BUL goal before the league top scorer headed wide a Paul Will corner.
On 21 minutes, Borbsi Byaruhanga sent a corner into the BUL area and Zaga headed in at the near post to give Vipers a deserved lead.
Four minutes later, it was 2-0 to the Venoms. After Walter Ochora brought down Fahad Bayo near the area, Allan Kayiwa curled home the resultant free kick for his first goal of the season.
From there on-wards, it was more of trying to see out victory for the Venoms as they defended deep and tried to catch BUL on the counter.
Byaruhanga tried his luck from distance but could not get his name onto the score sheet.
First he shot over before pulling an effort wide in the closing moments of the game.
Substitute Brian Kalumba raced onto a Geoffrey Wasswa lobbed through ball but shot over with Ochora breathing down his neck.
BUL fail first title test
BUL have so far been the most surprising side of the season as they sat top of the log before the game.
However, from the start, it looked evident that they were the inferior side compared to Vipers as they struggled to get out of their own half.
Robert Mukongotya tried his luck from distance but his powerful effort flashed wide of the target.
In what was their first worthy attack, Ojok headed a James Otim cross into the back of the net to half the deficit on 30 minutes.
This was as close as the visitors got to taking anything from the game as they were average throughout the exchanges.
Just after Ojok had scored, Richard Wandyake blasted over a speculative effort.
Wandyake then found him self in acres of space inside the Vipers SC area at the start of the second half but could not slot the ball past the on-rushing Fabien Mutombora.
This is BUL’s second loss of the season with the first dating back to a 3-0 defeat to Busoga United on match-day three.
For Vipers, they enjoyed their sixth victory if the campaign and remain unbeaten after drawing the other two of their opening 8 games.
How both teams started
Vipers SC
Fabien Mutombora (G.K), Paul Willa, Aziz Kayondo, Bashir Asiku, Halid Lwaliwa (c), Siraje Ssentamu, Bobsi Byaruhanga, Frank Tumwesigye, Allan Kayiwa, Dan Sserunkuma, Fahad Bayo
BUL FC
Abdul Kimera (G.K), Denis Okot (c), Richard Matovu, Walter Ochola, Musa Walangira, Godfrey Akol, James Otim, Charles Ssebutinde, Deogratious Ojok, Richard Wandyaka, Robert Mukongotya.
