The two favorites to reach the Stanbic Uganda Cup emerged with favorable results in their semifinal first legs as BUL FC and Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC won their midweek matchups. Vipers took down relegated Premier League side Mbarara City by a 2-1 score on a muddy pitch in the Western Region on Wednesday.
Paul Mucureezi’s 40th minute long range effort took a difficult bounce that was too much for the Mbarara City keeper to handle and gave Vipers the lead. Uganda national team member Milton Karisa doubled the lead when a free kick was spilled by the keeper and the forward took the rebound and lashed home. Mbarara’s Seiri Agumaho found a late goal for the hosts but it will be a difficult task for the Western Region’s most supported team to overturn the deficit in Kampala.
On Tuesday the fairytale story of third tier side Booma FC received a harsh kick of reality from opponents BUL FC. The Jinja-based club took a three-goal lead within the opening twelve minutes to put to rest any hopes of an upset thanks to two goals from Oketch Simon Peter and a strike from Richard Wandyaka. Ibrahim Kazindula and Karim Ndugwa added the other two for BUL while Leonard Mujuwa briefly gave Booma hope when he made it 3-1.
It appears a rematch of last year’s final will occur following the first leg results. Highlights from both matches are below following match reports from Ugandan site Kawowo.
Mbarara City 1-2 Vipers SC
Booma FC 1-5 BUL FC