Vipers come to life at Villa, Nyamityobora finally win

Kampala. Ten-man Vipers gave their best performance yet as they came from behind to brush aside SC Villa 3-1 at Namboole and restore table leadership last evening.
Daniel Sserunkuma, Abraham Ndugwa and Moses Waiswa’s goals ensured Habib Kavuma’s opener for Villa was just a statistic as the hosts remained winless in four matches.
The only dent to the Venoms victory was a straight red card to midfielder Taddeo Lwanga, who was sent off for an open studs lunge on Albert Mugisha on 69 minutes when they were already 3-1 up.
Coach Javier Martinez’s Vipers return to the top of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League (SUPL) table on 12 points - two ahead of KCCA, who had taken control on Tuesday when they beat Bright Stars 2-0.
The result for coach Moses Basena’s Villa means the record 16-time champions have now lost twice and drawn as many, which sees them drop into relegation zone.
They started well here; skipper Ambrose Kirya and Joseph Ssemujju pulling the strings.
And they got their reward on 27 minutes, Kavuma’s header off a corner allowed to stand after the linesman adjudged the ball to have crossed the line despite Vipers pleas that they had cleared it away.
One-nil down and Vipers charged, Waiswa asserting himself and Sserunkuma forced a long range save from Yusuf Wasswa. Moments later, the striker charged in, turning three Villa defenders before swiftly sweeping it in with his left past the Villa keeper for 1-1 on 42 minutes.
After recess, Vipers had the momentum, Waiswa breaking on the right and his cross headed out over Ndugwa only for the forward to improvise, back heeling it in spectacularly for a 2-1 lead on 47 minutes.
Waiswa, who dominated Manko Kaweesa and Kirya in the midfield, then scored one of his own; sweeping in a free kick that hit the upright and in it went off the back of the goalkeeper on 50 minutes.
In between, Villa’s Bashir Mutanda struck the crossbar from outside the 18-yard area but in the end they were no match for the visitors, who had actually just gritted out wins from their first three matches.
Elsewhere, Nyamityobora and Police finally won a football match.
Joseph Akandwanaho and Charles Musiige netted for Nyamityobora to edge the Mbarara derby 2-1 while Ronald Nyanzi and Juma Balinya were on target for Police’s familiar score victory over Ndejje. Hilary Mukundane and Dickens Kilama scored Mbarara and Ndejje’s consolations.
Coaches reactions
Javier Martinez, Vipers coach
We went one goal down but we reacted on time. I was a little bit worried because Villa is a good team and they have good players.
Everyday we are improving you will see match by match.

Moses Basena, Villa coach
We lost concentration and gave away two quick goals.
When you make mistakes against a team like the champions you are going to be punished.
And when you see a team like this one (SC Villa) which is being set up those are things you are going to go through and you go through them painfully.