Vipers SC and SC Villa served up a tense, hard-fought battle at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, ultimately settling for a 1–1 draw in a contest defined by missed chances, tactical adjustments, and late drama. From the opening whistle, the Venoms signaled their intent, with Allan Okello forcing an early reflex save from goalkeeper David Lukwago after just five minutes. It set the tempo for a first half in which Vipers looked the more assertive side but lacked the clinical edge.
The hosts continued to probe, and midway through the first stanza, Karim Watambala created the clearest opportunity of the half, cutting the ball back for Enock Ssebaggala, whose effort from inside the area soared over the bar. Moments before the interval, Yunus Sentamu carved through the Villa back line with a surging run from deep and nearly broke the deadlock, his left-footed strike whistling inches above the crossbar. Despite their dominance, Vipers entered the break without reward.
The second half began cautiously, both teams looking to settle and tighten their defensive structures. That caution was shattered in the 67th minute when SC Villa struck against the run of play, Frank Ssebufu applying a composed finish to silence the Kitende crowd. But the Venoms produced an instant response—just four minutes later, Usama Arafat restored parity with a superbly taken goal, capping off an incisive move orchestrated by a brilliant Okello through-ball.
Sensing momentum, Vipers tweaked their frontline and midfield, introducing Isaac Ogwang, Taddeo Lwanga, and later Milton Karisa and Abubakali Walusimbi to inject fresh energy. The changes brought renewed tempo but not the decisive breakthrough. Villa held firm, soaking up pressure as the hosts pressed for a late winner, but neither side found the cutting edge in the dying moments.
In the end, the spoils were shared after a compelling, high-intensity encounter that showcased resilience from both teams. For the Venoms, it was a night of frustration mixed with flashes of brilliance, and attention now shifts to Tuesday as they aim to turn their dominance into three points. One team, one dream, onto the next challenge.
