KAMPALA (Interstat) — Villa defeated Mbarara City 2-0 in a football match on Thursday, using a first-half goal from Frank Ssebuufu and a late strike from Najib Yiga to secure the result at home.

Ssebuufu put Villa ahead in the 11th minute, finishing the opening goal of the match. The home side carried that lead into halftime and protected it while Mbarara City searched for an equalizer. Villa remained compact after the break and limited Mbarara City’s chances. Yiga doubled the advantage in the 85th minute, scoring Villa’s second goal and closing out the scoring. Andrew Okumu recorded an assist in the win. Ssebuufu’s statline was 90 minutes and one goal, Yiga’s was 90 minutes and one goal, and Okumu’s was 90 minutes and one assist.

Mbarara City could not find a goal and finished with none. Villa’s defense held through the second half, and the home side saw out the closing minutes without conceding. The visitors pressed for a response after falling behind, but they were unable to turn possession into a scoring chance before Yiga added the second goal. Mbarara City’s efforts left it without a goal for the match, while Villa finished with two. Mbarara City finished the match with no goals and Villa finished with two, while the home side kept a clean sheet.

The result moved Villa to 2-0-1 in the competition and 2-0-1 across all competitions. Mbarara City dropped to 1-2 in the competition and 1-2 across all competitions. Villa’s competition record now stands at two wins, no losses and one draw, matching its overall record. Mbarara City’s competition record is now one win and two losses, the same as its record across all competitions. Villa has two wins, no losses and one draw in the competition and in all competitions. Mbarara City has one win and two losses in the competition and in all competitions.

Mbarara City entered the match after a 2-1 home win over Blacks Power FC and a 1-0 road loss at Ntugasaze in its previous two competition matches. Villa had beaten Police FC 6-1 and drawn 1-1 at Kataka in its previous two competition matches. Villa’s home performance added another win to a season that has included a heavy road victory and a draw. Mbarara City’s season has included a home win and two losses.

Villa took the lead early and played with the advantage for most of the first half. Mbarara City tried to respond after the break, but the visitors could not break through. Villa added the second goal late, then held Mbarara City without a goal through the final minutes. The match ended with Villa scoring twice and Mbarara City scoring none. Villa’s early goal and late goal framed a home performance that kept Mbarara City off the scoreboard.

Villa’s win came in its third competition match of the season. The home side had opened with a 1-1 draw at Kataka before a 6-1 win at Police FC. Mbarara City had opened with a 2-1 home win over Blacks Power FC before a 1-0 loss at Ntugasaze. Villa remained unbeaten in the competition and across all competitions. Mbarara City remained on one win in the competition and across all competitions. Both teams have played three matches in the competition. The result left Villa with two wins and one draw from three matches, while Mbarara City has one win and two losses from three matches.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Villa 2, Mbarara City 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Villa with a 70.8 percent probability to win. Villa had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 2 went over the over/under line of 2.75.