Sportpesa Kenyan Premier League week eight brought out excitement,suprises and bitter losses as table leaders Tusker, Mathare United and AFC Leopards all posted victories, Kakamega Homeboyz halted City Stars’ fine run as Sony Sugar’s winless streak extended to eight matches.
Battling Ushuru snap Gor Mahia’s two-match winning streak, Rangers end Ulinzi Stars’ unbeaten run, James Nandwa notches first win with Thika United while Muhoroni Youth returned to winning ways as they stunned fancied Bandari at Muhoroni.
Soka25east.com takes a round up of the weekend matches
AFC Leopards 2-1 Sofapaka (Nyayo Stadium)
Sofapaka were uncharacteristically enterprising in this game stunning the Big Cats with a second minute goal via Brian Nyakan.
Ingwe returned the match to parity with an emphatic Kepha Aswani header 10 minutes later for his third goal of the season.
Following some sustained pressure by Leopards their young sensation Simon “Walcott” Abuko headed them into the lead for good on 67 minutes after Clifton Miheso and Allan Katerrega had done the spade work.
Western Stima 1-2 Tusker (Moi Stadium)
Club faithful Wesley Kemboi sent the home team ahead, temporarily putting Tusker’s hopes of maintaining their league leadership status in jeopardy.
International defender Eugene Asike, who has formed a knack of scoring important goals, however came through with the brewers’ equalizer 13 minutes later.
Former AFC Leopards striker Michael Khamati left it late with the winning goal as Tusker stretched their unbeaten run to six matches.
Mathare United 1-0 Sony Sugar (Nyayo Stadium)
Winger Harrison Mwendwa set up youngster Derrick Onyango for the single goal in the second half as Sony Sugar stayed without a win for the eighth game this season.
Kakamega Homeboyz 1-0 City Stars
This result halted City Stars fine run that had seen them beat league pace setters Mathare United and AFC Leopards in successive games.
Andrew Murunga got on the end of a delivery from Jeremiah Wanjala to head in the solitary goal midway through the second half as Homeboyz bounced back to winning ways after two successive defeats.
Posta Rangers 1-0 Ulinzi Stars (Nyayo Stadium)
A penalty is all Posta Rangers needed to end Ulinzi Stars’ seven-match unbeaten run. Note, Ulinzi were the only unbeaten team in the league this season before this result.
Faithful Ulinzi defender Brian Birgen felled Joseph Nyaga in the danger zone, prompting the referee point to the spot. Up stepped Joseph Mbugi to bury the dead ball and hand the league dark horses their first win in four matches, and third of the season.
Chemelil Sugar 0-1 Thika United (Chemelil Sugar Sports Complex)
This was the first victory of the season for struggling Thika United who have been languishing in the bottom quarter of the league. It was also the first win for their new coach James Nandwa since moving to Thika.
Last year’s promising striker Raymond Omondi scored the solitary goal of the match in the 74th minute getting on the end of a cross by international back Dennis Odhiambo, who was returning from a red card suspension, to hit the target.
Chemelil had a perfect chance to get the lead early on when Thika defender Suleiman Ngotho handled the ball inside the box resulting in a penalty, but Samuel Olwande sent his spot kick flying over the cross bar.
Muhoroni Youth 1-0 Bandari (Muhoroni Stadium)
Consistency was at play once again for the league’s top scorer Wycliffe Ochomo of Muhoroni Youth who increased his season’s tally to six goals.
Ochomo scored in the 67th minute, jinxing past a couple of defenders after he was set up by midfielder Samuel Ndung’u to shake the net.
This result ended Muhoroni’s two-match winless streak while leaving the star-studded Bandari side with question to ponder as they registered their third consecutive match without a win.
Gor Mahia 0-0 Ushuru (Nyayo Stadium)
Red-hot goal poacher Jacques Tuyisenge was missing for K’Ogalo, reportedly injured, as they shared a point each with Ken Kenyatta’s Ushuru.
The defending champions, however, have only themselves to blame, as striker Jacob Keli squandered a penalty in the 52nd minute with a telegraphed kick that Ushuru goalkeeper Shabaan Odhoji had little problem keeping out.
The former KCB, AFC Leopards and Nkana striker had been felled inside the box by Ushuru’s Roy Okal to draw a contested penalty.
Gor had the better chances but just could not break down the determined tax men.
The defending champions lost their influentially midfielder Khalid Aucho in the second quarter after he was withdrawn from the match concussed.
Week 8 collated results:
Sat 09-04-16 | Mathare United | 1 – 0 | SonySugar | Nyayo Stadium |
Sat 09-04-16 | KK Homeboyz | 1 – 0 | City Stars | Mumias Complex |
Sat 09-04-16 | Western Stima | 1 – 2 | Tusker | Moi Stadium |
Sat 09-04-16 | AFC Leopards | 2 – 1 | Sofapaka | Nyayo Stadium |
Sun 10-04-16 Gor Mahia 0 – 0 Ushuru Nyayo Stadium
Muhoroni Youth 1-0 Bandari
Chemelil Sugar 0-1 Thika United
Posta Rangers 1-0 Ulinzi Stars
Week 9 fixtures:
Sat 16-04-16 | 14:00 | Tusker vs Gor Mahia | Nyayo Stadium | |
Sat 16-04-16 | 15:00 | SonySugar vs Chemelil Sugar | Awendo Stadium | |
Sat 16-04-16 | 15:00 | Muhoroni Youth vs Western Stima | Muhoroni | |
Sat 16-04-16 | 15:00 | Bandari vs Posta Rangers | Mbaraki Stadium | |
Sun 17-04-16 | 14:00 | Ulinzi Stars vs Mathare United | Afraha Stadium | |
Sun 17-04-16 | 15:00 | Thika United vs City Stars | Thika Stadium | |
Sun 17-04-16 | 15:00 | Sofapaka vs KK Homeboyz | Machakos Stadium | |
Sun 17-04-16 | 16:15 | Ushuru vs AFC Leopards | Nyayo Stadium |