Mbarara's survival hopes dented as nine-man Villa claim dramatic win
The Ankole Lions, already battling to avoid the drop, failed to capitalize on their numerical advantage after a fiery second half that saw both teams reduced to ten men.
SV Villa players celebrate their goals against Mbarara City
Aloysius Byamukama
Journalist @New Vision
UPL result
Mbarara City 0 SC Villa 2
Mbarara City's survival hopes suffered another blow on Wednesday as they fell 2-0 at home to SC Villa in a dramatic Uganda Premier League encounter that saw the visitors triumph despite finishing the match with just nine men.
The Ankole Lions, already battling to avoid the drop, failed to capitalize on their numerical advantage after a fiery second half that saw both teams reduced to ten men. The turning point came in the 49th minute when Aslam Ssemakula broke the deadlock for Villa, firing past Mbarara's defense to give his side the lead.
Action between Mbarara City (Yellow) and SC Villa
Tempers flared shortly after when SC Villa's David Owori and Mbarara's Nasur Sadiq were sent off following an on-pitch altercation. The hosts briefly looked to rally, but Villa's resilience was further tested when Geoffrey Lubangakene received a second yellow for a foul on Henry Kitegenyi, leaving the visitors with only nine players.
Despite the disadvantage, SC Villa remained tactically disciplined, sitting deep and waiting for opportunities to counter. Their patience paid off late in the game when Mbarara defender Martin Owalamu turned Charles Lwanga's dangerous cross into his own net, sealing the visitors' victory.
The match ended in further drama as Villa's goalkeeping coach Yusuf Ssenyonjo was also dismissed, but the result provided a much-needed boost for Moley Byekwaso's side, who are now shifting focus to the Uganda Cup after falling out of title contention.
"It wasn’t easy playing with two men down, but we adjusted tactically and got the result we needed to stay in the top-five race," said Byekwaso. "Now we prepare for the cup."
For Mbarara City, however, the defeat deepens their relegation fears. They remain 13th with 23 points, just four above the drop zone, while SC Villa climbs to fifth with 36 points. With time running out, the Ankole Lions must find a way to turn their fortunes around—or face the grim reality of top-flight football slipping away.