Uganda Premier League:
SC Villa 3-3 Soana
Vipers 0-0 Simba
It is now official. Any realistic chance for SC Villa to win the 2016 Uganda Premier League vanished and evaporated in thin air.
This follows the 3-3 with a ‘sturbborn’ Soana outfit at Nakivubo War memorial stadium on Friday evening.
In a game Villla led by two goals in the opening 15 minutes, Soana led a surge with a remarkable comeback.
Martin Kizza shot at Muhammed Didi’s near post for the opener as early as the 7th minute of the game and Mike Ndera doubled the advantage five minutes later to put the Jogoos in the comfort zone.
Sensing danger, Soana technical bench replaced the pedestrian Ibrahim Ayub Kizza with the club prodigal son and team skipper, Timothy Musinguzi by the opening quarter hour mark.
The change acted as a stabilizer in the backline with the crucial leadership and calm play from the defence.
Dimintive but impressive forward, Allan Kayiwa caught SC Villa goalie Nicholas Ssebwato off the line with a long range attempt from 30 yards to pull a goal back in the 26th minute and by the 33rd minute, the scoreline read all square with both sides at two goals apiece.
An eagle eyed diagonal pass from veteran Dan Wagaluka found Simon Okwi in space. Okwi’s squared ball was met first time by a well positioned Musa Esenu for his 9th goal since joining Soana in the January window.
Sixty seconds after restart, Ndeera hit the goal post from long range.
With five minutes to the end of the first half, midfielder Abdallah Nyanzi missed with a free header off right back Geofrey Ssimbwa’s pin point cross and this happened to be last chance of the half.
The start of the second half witnessed the introduction of Godfrey Lwesibawa for a causal Abdul Karim Kasule.
Lwesibawa’s impact was felt immediately with two of his customary long throws causing trouble at the Soana defence.
By the hour mark, SC Villa was ahead for the second time in the game when Kizza tapped home Lwesibawa’s grounder.
Ssebwato capped a miserable day at office as a late Dan Wagaluka free-kick eluded him for Soana’s equalizer.
Soana’s Francis Olaki was introduced for the industrious Simon Okwi with 10 minutes left on the clock.
This was Olaki’s first match since getting injured in Uganda Cranes’ January 2016 friendly against Gabon in preparation for the CHAN 2016 tourney.
Kizza had a goal scored from an off-side position disallowed much to the disappointment of the home fans, players on the field of play and the technical bench.
By this time, either side played with caution to at least return home with a point in the pouch.
Soana remains 4th with 45 points as SC Villa is still stagnated at 10th (38 points).
Team Line ups:
SC Villa XI: Nicholas Ssebwato (G.K), Misi Katende, Isaac Muleme, Ramathan Dudu, Henry Katongole (Captain), Patrick Mbowa,Mike Ndeera, Abel Eturude, Martin Kizza, Abdul Karim Kasule, Karim Ndugwa
Changes: 45′ Godfrey Lwesibawa On, Abdul Karim Kasule Out, 65′ Karim Ndugwa Out, Ambrose Kirya On, 75′ Misi Katende Out, Dennis Kamanzi On
Subs Not Used: Samson Kirya (G.K), Mike Sserumaga, Jonathan Mugabi
Head Coach: Ibrahim Kirya
Soana XI: Muhammed Didi (G.K), Geofrey Ssimbwa, Issa Mubiru, Shafiq Nana Kakeeto, Ibrahim Kizza, Abdallah Nyanzi, Allan Kayiwa, Dan Wagaluka, Willy Kavuma, Musa Esenu, Simon Okwi
Changes: 15′ Ibrahim Kizza Out, Timothy Musinguzi On, 75′ Francis Olaki On, Willy Kavuma Out, 80′ Kamada Ssebagala On, Simon Okwi Out
Subs Not Used: Godfrey Wakabu (G.K), Eddie Ruhweza, Hamis Kitagenda, Patrick Crespo Asiku
Head Coach: Charles Ayiekoh Lukula
Assistant Coach: Sula Kato
