Vipers SC had to dig deep in hostile territory to keep their Uganda Cup title defence alive, edging Northern Gateway 1-0 in a tense encounter played in Lira on Thursday.
Far from a routine outing, the defending champions were pushed to their limits by a spirited Northern Gateway side, with scorching heat and a dusty surface adding to the challenge. The Venoms approached the tie with clear intent, fielding a near full-strength lineup as head coach Ivan Jacky Minnaert signalled there would be no room for complacency.
The visitors’ plans were disrupted early when experienced midfielder Hillary Mukundane was forced off with an injury in the 19th minute, prompting an early reshuffle. Despite the setback, Vipers gradually imposed themselves and found the breakthrough just before the break.
Chukwuma Chukwurah provided the decisive spark, weaving his way past defenders before unleashing a precise curling effort that settled in the bottom corner, silencing the home crowd.
The second half unfolded as a tightly contested battle, with Northern Gateway searching for a response and Vipers prioritising control and game management. Chances were limited, but the Venoms stayed composed to protect their slender lead and book a place in the last 32.
In the end, it was resilience rather than dominance that defined Vipers’ night in Lira, as one moment of quality proved enough to keep their cup journey on course.
