In the only live televised match on the home of sports Sanyuka TV, defending champions Vipers hosted the bottom placed Paidha Black Angels at their magnificent St. Mary’s stadium.
Despite being labeled underdogs, the visitors travelled close to 500 kilometres from West Nile with the confidence that they could salvage something from Venoms’ fortress.
They were the first side to beat Vipers at this stadium two years ago with the one nil win in the Uganda cup.
With next week’s CAF Champions league preliminary tie trip to Sudan to face El Meirik on his mind, Vipers coach Javier Espinoza rested some of his key players.
National team duo of Tadeo Lwanga and Moses Waiswa who returned this morning from Nigeria was rested, while Injured shot stopper Fabien Mutombora did not make the squad. The Burundian’s absence made way for the young Bashir Ssekagya who made his debut.
Skipper Lwanga was replaced by Rahmat Senfuka in the holding role, while Daniel Serunkuuma started on the bench.
Despite their clear lack of coordination, the venoms bossed proceedings in the first half. Duncan Sseninde denied Kiyemba the chance to put vipers level in the first stanza as he selfishly went for goal instead of laying for his un marked colleague.
The first stanza ended goalless.
The resumption was a continuation from the first. Abraham Ndugwa was brought down inside the area to win a penalty, which Tito Okello converted to put the hosts up.
Five minutes later, Cromwell Rwotomiyo paced through two vipers defenders to shoot in the far right corner of Bashir Ssekagya’s goal and restore parity.
Paidha were now pushing for a draw and retracted hoping to take a draw. Their tactics worked until the second minute of added time when Captain and eventual man of the match Geoffrey Wasswa led by example as he powered through the sloppy Paidha backline to net a late winner that sent St. Mary’s stadium into frenzy.
The win sent Vipers back to the top of the summit with 18 points, two ahead of Mbarara City who have a game in hand.
Paidha Black Angels stays rock bottom with four points and a goal difference of minus ten.
Action will continue on Saturday as Police travels to Namboole to face URA Live on Sanyuka Tv.
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