By Fredrick Nadulli aka Razor,
As the TPL draws ever closer to its ultimate finale,the weekend saw no major surprises in the form book,with the usual suspects notching up expected wins.Gor Mahia and Tusker stayed true to form,the biggest upset coming in Awasi where Ulinzi Stars trooped into town and gunned down Chemelil Sugar.
AFC Leopards won in Nakuru in a victory that was largely academic.
Champions Gor Mahia,financially in the red,showed no such signs by brushing aside City Stars 4-1 on Saturday.Stocky Uganda international Dan Sserunkuma was the tormentor-in-chief,the talismanic centre forward notching a hat trick,two from the spot,to help his side maintain their log lead.
Closest challengers Sofapaka,snapping at their heels,had their rolling juggernaut checked in Awendo where they tied with hosts Sony Sugar.It would have been worse,the millers letting go a healthy two goal lead to eventually share the spoils.
Third placed Tusker had a rocky spell coming to the weekend,losing ground in the league and getting chucked overboard in the GOtv Shield.They nevertheless rediscovered their form in the nick of time,and showed little strain seeing off Mathare United.They were too dominant than the 1-0 scoreline suggested.
FORTRESS
The Awasi Stadium,deep in the sugar belt region of upper Nyanza,is historically considered a fortress.Over the years visiting teams have lost many a tough battle here.Military side Ulinzi arrived riding the crest of fine form.
They came from a goal down,true to their army fashion,to beat Chemelil and claw their way into fourth position.The unprecedented result seriously dented the title ambitions of Mike Mururi’s men.
Thika United ensured Bandari took with them loads of worry down coast,the dockers falling hard at the Municipal stadium and still smarting from a painful cup defeat at the hands of low tier side Rangers.
Ken Kenyatta’s KRA poor form continued to dog them,the taxmen leaving Muhoroni badly bruised.Their free fall continues,perhaps their biggest ambition at the moment being a top eight finish.
KCB pumped more life into their top flight survival with a gritty draw at Western Stima.Ronald Musana pulled the bankers level to ensure they stayed four points above the drop zone.
AFC Leopards made the short journey to Nakuru and came away 2-0 victors,Humphrey Mieno and Jacob Keli scoring either side of halftime to ease some pressure off the troubled giants.The win was however academic,the Cats staying twelfth on the standings.
Their victims Top Fry are already contemplating life in the lower division,a paltry sixteen points out of a possible seventy eight.
Four rounds of matches remain for the curtains to come down this season.
FULL WEEKEND RESULTS:
FRIDAY
Chemelil 1-2 Ulinzi
SATURDAY
Mathare 0-1 Tusker
Muhoroni 3-1 KRA
W.Stima 1-1 KCB
C.Stars 1-1 Gor
SUNDAY
Top Fry 0-2 AFC
Sony 2-2 Sofapaka
Thika 3-1 Bandari
