Honours even at Kadiba as SC Villa stall leaders Vipers
League leaders Vipers SC were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw by SC Villa in a fiercely contested Uganda Premier League encounter at FUFA Stadium Kadiba on Wednesday evening.
The result ensured Vipers maintained their position at the summit with 52 points after 23 matches, while Villa moved to 45 points in fourth place, keeping their pursuit of the शीर्ष positions alive.
In a match defined by intensity and fine margins, both sides traded momentum across the 90 minutes, producing a tactical battle that remained delicately poised until the final whistle.
The breakthrough arrived midway through the second half when Hillary Mukundane rose highest to power home a thunderous header in the 64th minute, converting Odili Chukwuma’s pinpoint delivery from a corner to give Vipers the advantage.
Villa’s response, however, was swift and incisive. Just four minutes later, Frank Ssebuufu restored parity with a composed header, capping a fluid attacking move orchestrated by the lively Hassan Mubiru. The winger weaved past defenders before linking up with Najib Yiga, whose cross—deflected off Mukundane—fell kindly for Ssebuufu to finish.
Earlier in the contest, Vipers had threatened to seize control when captain Milton Karisa carved out the first clear opportunity in the 18th minute, only to be denied by an alert save from Villa goalkeeper David Lukwago.
Chances continued to flow in an open second half. Reagan Mpande came within inches of putting Villa ahead in the 74th minute, his effort narrowly missing the target, while Karisa had a late opportunity to snatch victory for Vipers—only to be thwarted again by Lukwago, whose reflex save preserved a deserved point for the hosts.
Villa had entered the fixture buoyed by a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over KCCA FC in the Kampala Derby, and their performance against the league leaders further underlined their resurgence.
Ultimately, neither side could find a decisive edge, as a high-quality contest fitting of its billing ended with honours even—leaving the title race finely balanced heading into the closing stretch of the season.
