Vipers SC secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over bottom-placed Soltilo Bright Stars on Saturday at Kavumba, returning to the summit of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League.
The victory marked Vipers’ seventh win in 11 matches, lifting them to 24 points, just one ahead of NEC, who were held to a 1-1 draw by URA earlier in the week.
Meanwhile, Bright Stars remain anchored at the foot of the table with only six points from 11 games.
Gusto Mulongo opened the scoring for Vipers just 16 minutes into the match, capitalizing on Bright Stars’ inability to clear a well-delivered corner from Moses Waiswa.
Four minutes later, Allan Okello doubled the visitors’ lead with a composed finish from a cut-back by Karim Watambala.
The goal marked Okello’s seventh of the season, placing him just one behind SC Villa’s Charles Lwanga in the league’s top scorer race.
Bright Stars responded on the half-hour mark when Warren Buule took advantage of defensive uncertainty following a free kick, narrowing the deficit to 2-1.
Despite increased pressure from the home side, the Venoms held firm to secure all three points.
Elsewhere in the league, Express FC claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over KCCA under the floodlights at the MTN Omondi Stadium.
Emmanuel Wasswa’s solitary goal was enough to propel Express to 19 points, level with their opponents in the league standings.
Vipers’ performance highlights their intent to remain title contenders, with the team showing resilience against a spirited Bright Stars side.
The win underlines the importance of key players like Okello, whose consistency in front of goal has been instrumental in their success this season.
Bright Stars, however, continue to struggle, with their defensive frailties costing them crucial points.
The Kavumba-based side faces an uphill battle to climb out of the relegation zone as the season progresses.
Vipers’ next fixtures will be crucial in maintaining their position at the top, especially with NEC close behind.
The league’s competitive nature promises more thrilling encounters as teams vie for supremacy in the second half of the season.
