[Watch] Vipers squander chance to go top

Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC threw away a heavenly opportunity to assume top-spot after being held to a one-all stalemate by Maroons FC at Luzira Prisons on Wednesday.

Victory for the Venoms would have had them overtake leaders BUL FC by goal difference, but they could only settle for a point on enemy territory.

The point ensured that Vipers stayed second with 24 points accumulated, two adrift of BUL at the summit.

Fred Amaku and Milton Karisa netted for Maroons and Vipers, respectively, to enable each side salvage a stalemate.

For the hosts, the point left them sixth on the 16-team table with 19 points out of a possible 33.

On the evening, Vipers started strongly and looked the likelier to break the deadlock, but Yunus Sentamu, Bright Anukani and Erick Kambale all missed decent opportunities earlier on in the game.

That was before Amaku pounced in the 33rd minute for Maroons, latching on a loose ball after goalkeeper Fabien Mutombora had failed to keep out a Solomon Walusimbi stinging shot.

Early in the second half, Karisa received an awkward ball from Kambale to turn the defence and slot past Hannington Ssebwalunyo for the leveller.

Karisa thought he had stolen it for the Venoms in the 83rd minute, but his goal off a Fumador Asiwome pass was disallowed for offside.

Vipers will now be tasked to beat leaders BUL in their next match at the St Mary's Stadium, Kitende, if they are to assume table leadership, on December 23.

On the other hand, three days earlier, Maroons will be tasked to a trip to Adjumani to tussle it out with bottom side Arua Hill SC.

Elsewhere, SC Villa needed a second-half goal from Ivan Bogere to tame a resilient Gaddafi FC at the Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku.

Villa, who ascended to fifth on the log with 19 points, will play KCCA FC in their next match at Wankulukuku, while 11th-placed (13 points) Gaddafi will host Wakiso Giants FC in their subsequent encounter.