David GOMBE
Vipers dropped points in the race for the league title with a 2-2 stalemate against Express FC on Friday at Nakivubo Stadium.
The onus was on the Venoms to stretch their lead at the top to four points following NEC FC’s 2-1 victory over Kitara FC on Thursday.
For Express FC, they came into the game with financial struggles with their players going six months without pay.
Express FC fans led by Julius Bakunda promised ten million shillings to the players in case they registered a win over the league leaders.
They however stunned Vipers into silence when Emmanuel Wasswa gave them the lead in the 15th minute of the game.
Wasswa headed home on a rebound after Muhammad Senoga Kagawa had his effort hit the crossbar.
The Red Eagles skipper doubled their lead in the 27th minute with a sensational strike that left Vipers SC goalkeeper Alfred Mudekereza helpless to head into the halftime breather with a comfortable lead.
In the second period, Vipers starman Allan Okello pulled one back for his 15th league goal of the campaign after being fed by Angolan attacker Pedro Sukuya in the 52nd minute.
With twenty minutes to regulation time, Rashid Kawawa nearly re-established Express FC’s two goals cushion but was denied by Congolese goalkeeper Mudekereza.
The Venoms found the equalizer in added time when substitutes Milton Karisa and Gusto Mulongo combined to at least leave Nakivubo with a point.
Karisa perfectly fed Mulongo whose last kick of the game earned Vipers a point.
The Venoms however remain winless away to Express in now eight years with their previous victory over the seven time champions coming in 2017.
Vipers are now on 53 points, two above second placed NEC FC whom they face on Thursday next week at Kitende.
