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With Vipers’ fate in the competition sealed by Simba SC’s thumping of Horoya AC 7-0 in Tanzania, the Venoms were only fighting to salvage some pride in what has been an underwhelming first appearance in the group stage of the competiiton.
Abubakar Lawal scored Vipers’ first goal in the CAF Champions League, as well as his first for the club as they held Raja Casablanca to a 1-1 draw at the St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende on Saturday.
With Vipers’ fate in the competition sealed by Simba SC’s thumping of Horoya AC 7-0 in Tanzania, the Venoms were only fighting to salvage some pride in what has been an underwhelming first appearance in the group stage of the competiiton.
Vipers had suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Raja in their first meeting last month, with new coach Alex Isabirye imploring his players to fight and effect their own revenge.
Behind the electrifying support, the Venoms started brighter dominating the one on one battles and also squeezing Raja out of operating space.
But the home side rarely threatened their visitors, failing to use their dominance in the opening quarter to effect choosing to shoot from distance in a desparate attempt to find the first goal.
The Green Eagles eventually rode the storm and started to threaten, finding groove through their midfield trio if Walid Sabbar, AbdelRaouf Benguit and captain Abdelilah Hafidi.
They eventually took the lead in the 18th minute when Zakaria Labib’s cross was poked in by Soufianne Benjdida from close range for his second goal of the competition .
There were more nervous moments for Vipers after Raja took the lead as Benjdida continued to find space in behind Livingstone Mulondo and Hillary Mukundane.
Meanwhile, Vipers continued to frustrate at the other end, failing to utilize their chances, with Lawal indecisive on a couple of occasions, as Yunus Ssentamu was often isolated on the left.
Bright Anukani, who was brilliant on the day produced their first shot on target with nine minutes to go, as his low free kick drew a fine stop from Raja’s Marouanne Fakhr.
The Venoms started to pour forward as the half time break drew closer, eventually taking the at the stroke of halftime as Lawal turned in Issa Mubiru’s cross.
Isabirye’s side retained their spirit and fight in the second half. Anukani was the fulcrum of a much better performance that saw them have 60% of possesion by the 70th minute mark.
This time they had more chances. Lawal was denied by a brilliant low save from Fakhr, Anukani twice came close whie Olivier Osomba’s low shot fizzled past the upright.
Vipers continued to threaten, but as they drew men firward, they were nearly made to pay for it through a counter attack, but Houssine Rahimi’s attempted ball to Benjdida was gathered by Mudekereza.
There was an time for one more opportunity at either end Zakaria Habti’s free kick was gathered well by Mudekereza, who sent substitute Ibrahim Orit into attack.
The forward’s low cross took a touch off Abdelilah Makdour as it sat nicely for Ssentamu, but his low effort was superbly turned away by Fakhr.
While Vipers’ road on the continent didnot last, their final home game delivered a performance that was genuinely appreciated by the club fans.
They remain bottom of the group on two points with one game to play in a dead rubber way to Horoya in Guinea.
How They Lined Up:
Vipers SC XI: Alfred Mudekereza, Ashraf Madela, Issa Mubiru, Hillary Mukundane, Livingstone Mulondo, Siraje Ssentamu (C), Olivier Osomba, Bright Anukani, Yunus Ssentamu, Abubakar Lawal, Martin Kizza
Substitutes: Fabien Mutombora, Bashir Asiku, Ibrahim Orit, Serge Mwenge, Abdu Lumala, Najib Yiga, Desire Tety
Raja Casablanca XI: Marouane Fakhr, Zakaria Labib, Walid Sabba, Soufiane Benjdida, Zakaria Habti, AbdelRaouf Benguit, El Houssine Rahimi, Marouane Hadhoudi, Bouchaib Arrassi, Abdelilah Madkour, Abdelilah Hafidi (C)
Substitutes: Ahmadou Camara, Zakaria Hadraf, Nawfel Zehrouni, Hamza Maojahid, Mohamed Boulascout, Amir El Hadoui
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