Ushuru dent Tusker’s title chase at Nyayo, Ulinzi Stars crush Sofapaka at Afraha, Sony Sugar stun Mathare United at Awendo as unlucky City Stars fall to Western Stima in Nairobi in Sunday’s encounters.
City Stars 0-1 Western Stima (Nyayo Stadium)
Wesley Kemboi scored the solitary goal of the match, a fierce 20th minute pile drive that had come from what looked like a harmless position.
City Stars put up a strong fight nevertheless, and matters could have been different if it wasn’t for the inaccuracies of their strikers Jimmy Bageya and Ezekiel Odera who came in in the second half.
Ulinzi Stars 3-1 Sofapaka (Afraha Stadium)
Against expectation, basement side Sofapaka took the lead in the 20th minute when Ulinzi goalie James Saruni came off his line to deal with a dangerous shot, but fluffed his attempt and Charles Melubo kept his concentration to execute a superb header.
Calm under pressure, the soldiers equalized three minutes later with a pulsating counter attack that ended with Samuel Onyango finding the back of the net.
Second half replacement John Kago handed the soldiers the hard fought lead with a firm header in the 74th minute before Brian Birgen sealed victory a minute before time.
Sony Sugar 2-1 Mathare United (Awendo Green Stadium)
Amos Asembeka drew first blood in the 33rd minute for the home team through a penalty after Mathare defender Dennis Orenge had brought down Boniface Muchiri inside the box.
Masoud Juma then tapped in Asembeka’s pass to double the score two minutes after the restart and further disorient the title hopeful visitors.
Midfielder Whyvonne Isuza, growing is stature this second leg, pulled a goal for the 2008 champions with 13 minutes left to the final whistle, but the threatened comeback did not materialize.
Posta Rangers 1-0 Thika United (Ruaraka ground)
Rangers striker Timothy Otieno got on the end of Calvin Odongo’s cross in the 43rd to score the only goal of the match.
The Zedekiah Otieno-coached side continued to dominate proceedings with Titus Echesa and John Nairuka coming closeas they looked to put insurance on their slim lead. It did not matter.
Ushuru 1-1 Tusker (Nyayo Stadium)
Ushuru scored first through Ebrimma Sanneh from a penalty on 19 minutes after the Gambian striker was fouled by Tusker defender Lloyd Wahome inside the box.
Kenya international Allan Wanga however salvaged a point for the title chasing brewers in the 37th minute for his fourth goal in as many matches.
