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Vipers managed to progress to the Stanbic Uganda Cup round of 16 on penalties after failing to break down Jinja North United in normal time at the Kyabazinga Stadium in Bugembe.
Coach Beto Bianchi opted to make seven changes to the team that started in their 5-0 loss to Raja Casablanca, perhaps resting some for the weekend game against Horoya.
Hillary Mukundane, Murushid Jjuuko, Siraje Ssentamu and captain Milton Karisa were the only ones who started. Fabian Mutombora returned to the goal after Alfred Mudekereza’s poor show.
Angolan midfielder Miguel Nzau was handed his debut after his international transfer certificate was cleared early in the day.
Missed chances
Vipers dominated the early exchanges, but the second division side made more daring moves.
Paul Kibande forced Mutombora to a spectacular save in the 14th minute and later skewed his shot wide from inside the box.
Noel Mutebi followed it up with another long-range one but found the keeper in his line.
Bianchi was forced to rearrange his attack at the hour turn bringing on Martin Kizza and Desire Tety for Karim Ndugwa and Siraje Ssentamu. It almost worked.
Kizza almost earned himself a booking for Kicking Yona Kiiza for a foul. Samuel Mwanje rushed to take the free kick but took it carelessly. The ball fell on Kizza, who dribbled in and fired, but Fredrick Wangwa parried it out for a corner.
Kibande almost diverted the corner to the hosts' own goal, but the keeper swiped it over for another corner.
Chaos erupts
Jinja North kept growing in confidence as Kibande and Andrew Muloba caught Vipers' defence flat-footed in a quick counter in with four minutes left on the clock, but the latter fired wide with only the keeper to beat.
The duo combined again in the 90th minute, with Maloba striking in, only for the referee to flag him offside.
Karisa and Tety combined well with the last kick, but the Ivorian was late, sticking his boot on Wangwa, who had beaten him to the ball.
The keeper failed to recover and was rushed for further medical assistance by an ambulance as the situation turned into a brawl.
Salim Wekiya substituted him before the referee ended the match and called for the shootouts.
Penalties
Both teams got their five kicks right before Dickson Matama messed the hosts, hitting the crossbar with their second of the sudden death kicks.
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