Gor Mahia, KCB FC and Ulinzi Stars begun their 2019/20 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season with wins over Tusker FC, Sony Sugar FC and Kisumu AllStars respectively in matches played on Saturday 31st August.
Gor Mahia 5-2 Tusker FC
Nicholas Kipkirui put the defending champions ahead in the 26th minute snatching the ball away from Hillary Wandera to slot past Brewers custodian Robert Mboya. Tusker FC equalized in the 37th minute, Boniface Muchiri beating Robert Mapigano with a hard shot after a defense-splitting pass from Jackson Macharia.
Wandera fouled Wellington Ochieng in the box four minutes after the restart and captain Kenneth Muguna stepped up to take the spot-kick but Tusker custodian Robert Mboya did well to deny him only for the former Western Stima midfielder to pounce on the rebound to put Gor Mahia ahead once again. Muchiri leveled matters again in the 61st minute with a rasping shot from the edge of the box after he noticed Mapigano was off his line.
Charles Momanyi header in the 63rd minute off a Muguna cross made it 3-2 and Muguna grabbed his brace with a beautiful volley in the 81st minute. Boniface Omondi completed the job with a goal in the 90th minute.
Kisumu AllStars 0-2 Ulinzi Stars
Ulinzi Stars beat Kisumu AllStars 2-0 in an earlier match played at the same venue courtesy of a second-half brace by last season’s joint top-scorer Enosh Ochieng.
Sony Sugar FC 0-3 KCB FC
Zediakiah Zico Otieno’s kicked off his KCB sojourn with a win – the Bankers thrashing Sony Sugar 3-0 in their own backyard – the Green Stadium in Awendo. Enock Agwanda and Stephen Waruru gave them a 2-0 lead heading into the breather and Yusuf Mohammed’s own goal in the 79th minute was the final nail in Sony’s coffin.
Wazito 1-1 Nzoia Sugar FC
Visiting Nzoia Sugar FC held Wazito FC to a 1-1 draw in an entertaining match played at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.
Collins Wakhungu finished off Robert Arot’s cross from the right flank to give Nzoia the lead in the 54th minute but Wazito restored parity in the 69th minute through an Elvis Rupia penalty.
Mathare United 0-0 Bandari
Hosts Mathare United and Bandari played to a barren draw at the Ruaraka ground.
Additional reporting kpl.co.ke
