Vipers SC 0-1 Al-Hilal Omdurman: Ugandan champions fall at home

Ugandan Premier League (UPL) champions Vipers SC have started their Confederation of African Football (Caf) Champions League on the back foot after falling by a solitary goal at home against Al-Hilal Omdurman.

Bakhet Hamid scored the only goal of the match to help his side claim a vital win.

The Venoms came into the match hoping to get a good result to stand a chance of making it to the next round of the competition. However, they were not going to have it easy against the Sudanese outfit who had come into the match eyeing a positive result away.

It was the home team who started on a high and after just five minutes, when Jamil Kalisa had the first attempt but narrowly missed the target.

Soon after, the visitors stepped up and won a free-kick in a promising position. Hamid Nasir rose for the occasion but his curling effort was pushed to safety by goalkeeper Fabien Mutombora in the Venoms goal.

The visitors broke the deadlock in the 26th minute when Bakhet Hamid tapped in from a good area after a swift counter-attack. The Venoms were punished for a defensive lapse as they concentrated on getting an opening goal.

Vipers finished the first half on a high as Karim Watambala forced goalkeeper Abdalla Aboeshren to a good save with his shot from about 20 yards out.

The Ugandan outfit could have levelled matters in the 55th minute, but Cesar Manzoki headed the ball over from an Abraham Ndugwa cross.

With time running out, David Bagoole and Dan Sserunkuma were introduced in place of Jamil Kalisa and Abraham Ndugwa as the UPL giants pushed for a goal.

Halid Lwaliwa came closest in the 60th minute when he got a chance in the danger zone, but his header, from a Watambala cross, was stopped by the woodwork.

Paul Mucureezi and Ibrahim Orit had glorious opportunities to at least hit the back of the net, but Abdallah Aboeshren played his part to help his team maintain the slim lead.

Late on, Mutombora pulled off a fantastic save to deny the unmarked Farouq Mughid who was certain to score, and keep the scoreline in check after the first leg.