Uganda Premier League
Proline FC 4-2 Vipers SC
StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo
Tuesday, 14-01-2020
LUGOGO – Vipers SC came from a goal down to defeat Proline FC 4-2 in one of the four Uganda Premier League games played on Tuesday.
Fahad Bayo and Denis Mwemwezi each scored a brace for the Venoms who registered their biggest away victory of the season.
Diego Kizza and Hakim Kiwanuka got the two consolation goals for Proline FC.
Victory sees Vipers move seven points clear at the top of the log with 42 points from 17 games.
For Proline, they remain bottom of the standings with just 12 points.
Vipers respond magnificently to falling behind
Vipers SC came into the game having won 12 of their first 16 league games and looked intent on adding another victory.
Inside the opening minute, Fahad Bayo headed an Aziz Kayondo cross just wide and the striker who scored 9 first-round goals should have been disappointed with himself for not making the keeper work.
Despite going down moments later, the Venoms responded swiftly as Mwemwezi equalized.
The pacey winger capitalized on poor communication between Proline defender Yusuf Mukisa and goalkeeper Hassan Matovu, heading into an empty net.
Two minutes later, it was 1-2 in favour of the visitors.
Mwemwezi who was full of running down the right crossed for Paul Mucureezi who shot first time before his effort was parried by Matovu into the path of Bayo to slot in the second.
The third would come on 20 minutes with Matovu once again at fault.
Karim Watambala sent a corner into the Proline area which was not held onto by Matovu and found its way to Rahmat Ssenfuka who controlled and shot first-time at Matovu before the ball found its way to Mwemwezi to net his second of the afternoon.
The Venoms could have added more goals to their tally before the break but Watambala blasted one over before Mucureezi shot straight at Matovu from some distance out.
In a first half that exhibited poor defending, Vipers were dealt two huge blows as they saw both Siraji Ssentamu and captain Halid Lwaliwa limp off and replaced by Ibrahim Tembo and Jacob Okao.
Vipers’ fourth goal would come inform of a penalty on 59 minutes as Bayo converted from the spot after Ibrahim Ssendi brought down Mwemwezi in the area.
The Venoms who are the league’s second highest scores could have scored more but for poor finishing.
Mwemwezi found himself in a good position at the start of the second half but shot straight at Matovu from an acute angle after dribbling past Ibrahim Ssendi and leaving him for dead.
Watambala who was brilliant all afternoon forced a good save from Matovu after Proline lost possession just outside their area.
Bayo who was on a hat trick then headed wide a Watambala cross before Ssenfuka rattled the cross bar off a ferocious long range strike.
Suicidal defending costs Proline dearly
Proline are not known for their defending as the team has been built around a possession based attacking brand of football.
They came into Tuesday’s encounter having conceded 24 goals in 16 matches, the joint third-most in the league.
After taking the lead inside 9 minutes through former Vipers SC striker Diego Kizza, they laterally fell apart defensively.
First, the combination of Mukisa and Matovuu somehow allowed Mwemwezi to head in the opener as they could not clear a routine ball.
Then Matovu was at fault for both the second and third.
The custodian parried a Mucureezi weak effort into the path of Bayo to net the second before he failed to deal with Watambala’s corner in the build up to the third.
Despite taking off Mukisa and replacing him with Juma Ramathan, the situation defensive wise did not change for the better as Vipers continued to get the chances.
Proline will go home knowing that they were second best on the day but had chances to make the score line more respectable.
Hakim Kiwanuka shot weakly at Derrick Ochan after he was played in by Richard Ajuna.
The tricky winger then somehow headed wide James Begesa’s pinpoint accurate cross.
In the second half, Kiwanuka pulled an effort wide after he was played in by Bright Anukani before substitute Alfred Leku lashed onto a through ball before shooting wide.
Proline’s second goal came four minutes from time off Kiwanuka’s low shot that crept past Matovu and into the back of the net.
How both teams started
Proline FC
Hassan Matovu (GK), Ibrahim Ssendi, Joseph Mandela, Ibrahim Wamannah, Richard Ajuna, Bright Anukani, Diego Kizza, Yusuf Mukisa, Anorld Sserunjogi, Hakim Kiwanuka, James Begesa.
Vipers SC
Derrick Ochan (GK), Paul Willa, Aziz Kayondo, Geoffrey Wasswa, Halid Lwaliwa, Siraji Ssentamu, Rahmat Ssenfuka, Karim Watambala, Denis Mwemwezi, Paul Mucureezi, Fahad Bayo
The other games played on Tuesday
-SC Villa 0-1 Busoga United FC
-Onduparaka FC 1-1 Maroons FC
-Bright Stars FC 2-1 KCCA FC
