Vipers SC were forced to settle for a share of the spoils after a spirited comeback from NEC FC earned a 1-1 draw in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League on Tuesday evening at St. Mary’s Stadium Kitende.
What initially appeared to be a routine night for the hosts quickly evolved into a tense and tactical battle, as NEC overturned an early setback to leave the league leaders ruing missed opportunities.
Hard-fought and earned. A point on the road #VIPNEC || #StarTimesUPL || #Diehards pic.twitter.com/CfZL6jKWtg
— NEC FC (@Nec_Fc) February 17, 2026
Vipers burst out of the blocks with purpose and precision. Just seven minutes into the contest, Milton Karisa latched onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Karim Watambala before slotting home with composure to ignite the home crowd. The early breakthrough handed the Venoms control and momentarily silenced any belief from the visitors.
But NEC refused to be rattled. Gradually, the visitors began stitching together phases of possession, probing the flanks and testing the Vipers backline with purposeful movement. Though the hosts carried their 1-0 cushion into halftime, the balance of play had started to tilt, with NEC creating promising openings and forcing alert interventions from the defence.
The second half saw a noticeable shift in intensity. NEC’s technical bench responded with smart adjustments, tightening their defensive shape while injecting fresh energy into attack. The momentum steadily swung in their favour as Vipers struggled to replicate their early sharpness.
Their persistence finally bore fruit in the 75th minute. A cleverly rehearsed corner routine unsettled the Vipers defence, Joseph Dhata sparked the sequence before Emmanuel Kulanga delivered an inviting ball into the danger area. Warren Buule rose highest, meeting it with authority to power home the equaliser and stun the Kitende faithful.
𝗜𝗖𝗬𝗠𝗜: Warren Buule’s header that’s secured us a vital point tonight 💪🏻
🎥 Credit: @fufatv1 #VIPNEC || #StarTimesUPL || #Diehards pic.twitter.com/QG4K4rJdXA— NEC FC (@Nec_Fc) February 17, 2026
With parity restored, the contest opened up dramatically. NEC nearly completed the turnaround late on when Shamir Kimwero unleashed a fierce long-range strike that narrowly missed its mark. At the other end, Vipers pushed for a winner but found themselves repeatedly stalled by a resolute NEC rearguard.
Tempers flared in the closing stages, reflected in bookings for both sides as the stakes heightened. Yet neither team could carve out the decisive moment.
The stalemate extends NEC’s impressive unbeaten stretch and reinforces their credentials as genuine contenders. For Vipers, however, the result feels like two points dropped a night where early dominance failed to translate into maximum reward.
