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by
Evans Odour
Nakuru All Stars ran riot at Afraha Stadium breaking KCB while Gor Mahia saw their title crowning delayed, Afc Leopard back in winning ways
Nakuru All Stars 5-2 KCB (Afraha Stadium)
It was an afternoon of sweet revenge victory for Nakuru All Stars, for the first leadue loss to KCB as they thumped them 5-2 at Afraha Stadium.
In form striker Boniface Akenga scored a hat trick while in form Lwamba Bebeto scored a brace to seal the a victory for All Stars who are desperately fighting to avoid relegation.
Boniface Akenga gave the hosts the lead inside the first two minutes, the forward thumping home a wonderfully overhead kick, KCB who got the equalizer 6 minutes later with a diving header from Athman Buki.
The goal-hungry Bebeto was at it again when he scored his second, and seventh of the season, in the 37th minute. The productive Bebeto then fed Akenga for Nakuru’s fourth goal.
Akenga claimed his hat trick on 42 minutes with a spot kick. It was indeed a good day in the office for Akenga, who now has nine goals this season.
KCB never really got back in the game and just had Kiongera’s successful penalty kick midway through the second half to show for their second 45 minutes efforts in what turned out to be a comprehensive beating from Nakuru. The result didn’t change All Stars’ bottom positioning but saw them move to within four points of KCB who are 14th, and three behind Nairobi City Stars in 15th.
Ulinzi Stars 0-0 Gor Mahia (Afraha Stadium)
The crowning moment of K’Ogalo as 2015 champions was delayed after Ulinzi Stars denied them victory in this tough encounter.
A win for Gor Mahia would have given them an unassailable 65 points, but second-placed Ulinzi put out a good performance to deny them all the points thereby delaying the defending champions’ confirmation as Kenya’s top club this season.
Both teams presented a highly combative game, and the first half was a particularly cagey as the vociferous Green Army backed the men in green to the hilt. K’Ogalo duly picked up a notch in the second half, with Meddie Kagere and Michael Olunga showing intent.
It also means Gor Mahia need only one point to be declared KPL champions for a third consecutive time. Kogalo are on 63 points to Ulinzi’s 51 with the Soldiers capable of reaching a maximum 63 while they also have a +26 goal difference disadvantage against Kogalo who also have a game in hand.
City Stars 2-2 Thika United (City Stadium)
City Stars’s star man Sanneh Ebrima came to the rescue of his relegation battling side with a brace superbly cancel out Thika United’s two-goal lead.
Thika’s Vincent Omumbo scored the first goal of the match in the 32nd minute via a penalty after Kennedy Otieno was brought down in the box by City Stars’s Jackson Onjola. Second half substitute Mwinyi Kibwana doubled Thika’s lead in the 75th minute as the visitors looked to hit cruise control.
Red-hot Ebrima, however, had other ideas halving the deficit three minutes later with a glancing header off John Amboko’s free kick. The Gambian striker was at it again in the 85th minute when he beat Thika goalkeeper Hamza Muwonge with aplomb for his ninth goal of the season.
Ushuru 1-0 Chemelil Sugar (City Stadium)
Ushuru returned to winning ways and the accompanying three points that pushed them from 10th place to eighth on the SportPesa Premier League table. Ushuru goalkeeper Samuel Odhiambo scored via a penalty a minute to the break after Smith Ouko had handled the ball inside the box.
Ushuru’s Nelson Marasowe received his matching orders after he was booked twice in the first minute of added time for rough play and later showing dissent to the referee. But it did not matter – at least on the part of the Kenya Revenue side as they hanged on for the narrow win.
AFC Leopards 1-0 Western Stima (Kasarani Stadium)
AFC Leopards broke their six-match winless streak with this result played behind closed doors. Midfielder Bernard Mang’oli scored the solitary goal of the match in the 39th minute via a penalty.
Ingwe had won the spot kick after Mike Khamati was brought down inside the box by Stima defender Joash Onyango. Stima came back in the second half the more enterprising side, Wesley Kemboi watching in anguish as his effort hit the woodwork in the 52nd minute.
Leopards’s goalkeeper Lucas Indeche then superbly kept out second half substitute Fred Nyarombo’s effort. In the 74th minute, Leopards midfielder Joseph Njuguna was red carded just as he was being substituted.
Leopards coach Zdravko Logarusic, who was making a return to the touchline after skipping several games, said he was happy with the result, but not the general performance of his charges.
Muhoroni Youth 1-0 Mathare United (Muhoroni Stadium)
Muhoroni Youth stretched their unbeaten run in the league to 12 matches and moved 4th in the Kenyan Premier League log after grabbing a 1-0 win against Mathare United at Muhoroni Stadium. Second half substitute Oscar Oketch scored the solitary goal of the match in the 48th minute, connecting with a Paul Odhiambo cross from the right wing.
The result sent the once relegation threatened Muhoroni Youth to fourth on the log with 39 points while Mathare United remain in trouble at 11th position. Sony Sugar 2-0 Sofapaka (Awendo Green Stadium)
Hamidu Kwizera brought forth Sony’s first goal in the 55th minute when he made the best of a half clearance by Sofapaka goalkeeper David Okello.
Sofapaka fought back, but had their fate for this match sealed in the 70th minute when Sony regular Marwa Chamberi slotted home a penalty after defender Felly Mulumba had brought down Andrew Sekayombya inside the danger area.
The three points pushed Sony up the table from 12th to 10th place, while Sofapaka stayed in third position, three points above the surging Muhoroni who will no doubt have upgraded their ambitions.
Bandari 1-0 Tusker united (Mombasa)
Bandari completed their first ever double over Tusker FC in a 1-0 win at the Mombasa County Stadium. Lawrence Kasadha netted the solitary strike tapping home after a Martin Musalia howler in the 30th minute to give the hosts a winning margin similar to the one they claimed in the first leg.
Twahir Muhiddin kept his words and left out goalkeeper Wilson Obungu who cost his side points in the 2-1 defeat against Gor Mahia at the same venue two weeks ago. Joseph Okoth was given the nod and it served as some sort of relief seeing his opposite number in Tusker goal fumble.
Tusker failed to create anything of note as their goal drought persisted while Bandari’s win takes them level on points with the Brewers who are only 5th because of a superior goal difference.
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