Uganda Cup: Anukani Bags Brace To Hand Vipers Massive Advantage With A 4-0 Win Over Bright Stars In First Leg
Vipers Sports Club have one foot in the Stanbic Uganda Cup final after an impressive 4-0 victory over Bright Stars FC in Saturday’s pulsating last-four encounter at St Mary’s stadium Kitende.
The Venoms have upper hand ahead of the second leg thanks to a magical brace from Bright Anukani and a goal each from Yunus Sentamu and Karim Watambala.
Alex Isabirye’s guns who were deserving winners on the evening started on high note and got the opener through Anukani, who scored from a spot after Milton Karisa was brought down in the area by Warren Buule in the box just 10 minutes from kickoff.
Moments later, Sentamu doubled the lead for the hosts after tapping home Milton Karisa’s delivery.
Before Anukani scored a beauty after collecting from his own half to send a long range strike that beat Bright Stars custodian Hassan Matovu putting the home fans into wild celebrations as he bagged his second goal and the third for Vipers SC in the 27th minute.
Bright Stars notable opportunity in the first half came through Emmanuel Loki in the 30th minute but his effort was punched out for a corner kick.
The Venoms took a 3-0 lead in the interval.
After the break, the hosts continued from where they left and missed an opportunity to add the fourth through Abubakar Lawal whose effort went wide following a cross from Sentamu.
Before Karim Watambala sealed the victory from a spot kick for a 4-0 win after Abang Cromwell Rwothomio was fouled in the forbidden area by Buule in the added minute of normal time.
Victory saw Vipers SC took a huge step for their third consecutive Stanbic Uganda Cup final while Bright Stars who were demolished have a huge task ahead of the return leg if they are to make it to the finals of the show-piece.
The winners of the tie will face either Police Fc or Adjumani TC in the finals of this year’s showpiece at AkiBua stadium in Lira City.
The first leg of that semi-final finished 1-0 win in favor of Police FC thanks to a lone goal scored by Hassan Kikoyo from a penalty kick after Herman Wasswa was fouled in the forbidden area at Kavuma Recreational Center on Monday.
Confirmed Line-UPS:
Vipers SC XI: Fabien Mutombora GK, Rogers Torach, Isa Mubiru, Ashraf Mandela, Hillary Mukundane Siraje Sentamu, Karim Abdul Watambala, Milton Karisa ©, Bright Anukani, Abubaker Lawal, Yunus Junior Sentamu
Bright Stars XI: Hassan Matovu Go, Jonathan Odongo, Omony Denis kaka, Etou Godown, Warren Buule, Mandera Alex, Fiat Cleophas ©, Noordin Bunjo, Ibrahim Kasinde, Loki Emmanuel, Samuel Ssenyonjo
