Same spot, same execution, same angle, same devastating effect! In the end hosts KCC and sworn rivals SC Villa settled for a hotly contested 1-1 draw, a result made possible by two well struck penalties in either half.
On 72 minutes, second half substitute Herman Wasswa - as resolute as thunder - stepped forward to send Nicholas Sebwato the opposite direction; the same ruthless finish from the penalty spot SC Villa skipper Steven Bengo had earlier executed past KCC goalkeeper Yasin Mugabi on 31 minutes.
Both KCC and Villa spanned the opportunity to significantly close in on leaders Vipers, who lost 2-1 to Rwenshama.
Coach Ibrahim Kirya’s second-placed Villa, however, cut the deficit to Vipers – who are on 46 points - by just one to four, while Abdallah Mubiru’s KCC stay third on 38.
Villa dominated KCC in the first half but the defending champions rallied to wrest back power in the second.
The visitors took the lead on 31 minutes after Augustine Nsumba tumbled in the penalty box under minimal contact from KCC midfielder Owen Kasule. Referee Dennis Batte never hesitated to point to the spot.
Bengo, as confident as ever, stepped forward to authoritatively thump his kick beyond wrong-footed Mugabi and into the top right hand roof of the goalkeeper.
In his second game as Villa interim coach, Kirya had dropped Musa Docca and switched Hassan Wasswa from midfield to defence, where he partnered with Fahad Kawooya. They hardly disappointed.
KCC’s Mubiru had, meanwhile, started with striker Derrick Nsibambi ahead of their lead striker Herman Wasswa. Forward Michael Birungi had also started on the bench. But a desperate situation needed desperate measures.
The hosts needed a goal and Mubiru had to act. The coach threw on Michael Birungi for Baker Lukooya and Herman Wasswa for William Wandri.
Kirya, too, introduced striker Victor Emenayo for Ronald Muganga and Moses Gaale for Erisa Ssenkisambu.
With KCC now attacking from the wings and through the middle; Paul Mucureezi from the left, Birungi’s pace doing damage on the right and Herman and Nsibambi probing on the twin, Villa were bound to implode.
And they did on 72 minutes, Birungi’s run - with Timothy Awani and Herman in tandem - at Isaac Muleme caused a bit of melee for the visitors.
Birungi then lost possession but Awani was on hand to collect, but on putting his foot in, he was clipped inside the area and Batte for the second time in the match pointed to the spot. Calm, Wasswa thumped it in to rescue the hosts a valuable point.
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