Sportpesa Kenyan Premier league week 13 was an exciting affair as some teams went home jubilant while others went home in tears after losses.
Tusker condemned AFC Leopard to yet another loss, league newcomers Nakumatt stunned Mathare United as Posta Rangers held their own against record title holders Gor Mahia in Sunday matches.
Chemelil Sugar ended Ulinzi Stars’ four-match winning streak as Kakamega Homeboyz held Bandari to a barren draw in Mombasa and Nzoia Sugar hold their own against former champions Sofapaka in Saturday’s matches.
Bandari 0-0 Kakamega Homeboyz (Mbaraki Sports Club)
Jacob Keli’s goal drought persisted in this match as hosts Bandari struggled to make any impression on visiting Homeboyz.
Wycliffe Ochomo squandered several chances for Kakamega Homeboyz, and he knows, for a player of his caliber, he could have done better in the 36th minute but dithered.
He was withdrawn immediately after the second half for Lamine Dialo.
Bandari have now gone fur straight matches without a win. Small wonder, the partisan crowd at Mbaraki turned unruly at one time demanding changes to the fielding.
Chemelil Sugar 2-1 Ulinzi Stars (Chemelil Sports Complex)
Jaffary Odeny opened the scores for Chemelil with a powerful header in the 43rd minute before Victory Majid doubled the sugar millers lead on 74 minutes with a well taken penalty kick after Ulinzi defender Geoffrey Kokoyo handled the ball in the box.
Ulinzi earned a penalty of their own in the 83rd minute after Benjamin Oketch tackled Oscar Wamalwa recklessly inside the box. Oketch stepped up to slot in the dead ball.
Nzoia Sugar 1-1 Sofapaka (Sudi Stadium)
Sofapaka took the lead in the 24th minute through captain Maurice Odipo who rose high to nodd home veteran Charles Okwemba’s cross.
The battling hosts however equalised just four minutes to the end of regular time via an easy tap in from Benjamin Muchuma after he was fed by midfielder Masita Masuta.
Thika United 1-1 Muhoroni Youth (Thika Stadium)
Muhoroni started strongly and were rewarded with a goal in the second minute. Thika goalkeeper Eliud Emase had punched the ball onto the path of Bliss Kityo who obligingly guided it into the net.
Eugene Mukangula levelled matters for Thika in the 16th minute with a long range shot that beat Muhoroni custodian Salim Sowedi all the way.
This was Muhoroni’s first point in three matches and a commendable recovery from their 3-0 drubbing by Nzoia a week earlier.
Nakumatt 2-1 Mathare United (Ruaraka Grounds)
Nicholas Meja beat Mathare defender David Owino with a brilliant turn before planting the ball behind the net for Nakumatt’s lead.
Meja however turned villain 10 minutes later when he made an illegal tackle on Cliff Nyakeya to give away a penalty that was successfully converted by Mathare’s Crispin Oduor.
But Nakumatt were not going to show any respect to the 2008 champions and restored their lead seven minutes later. They earned a penalty of their own courtesy of a foul by Martin Ong’ori. Productive Kepha Aswani accurately buried home the spot kick to hand the retail traders the win while claiming his fifth goal of the season.
Posta Rangers 1-1 Gor Mahia Nyayo Stadium)
The result confirmed a second consecutive match without a win for both sides.
Joseph Mbugi’s long cross found in form Dennis Mukaisi who scored with a free header in the 59th minute for his fourth strike of the season.
Second half substitute Jacques Tuyisenge equalized for K’Ogalo in the 77th minute after sustained pressure spearheaded by Meddie Kagere, Wellington Ochieng and Godfrey Walusimbi. But the former multiple champions could not find the winner much as they tried.
Tusker 1-0 AFC Leopards (Kinoru Stadium)
Diminutive striker Jackson Macharia stabbed in his shot after Michael Khamati initially missed a cross laid out for him by lanky midfielder Humphrey Mieno for the only goal of the match.
This took Ingwe’s winless run to seven games as Tusker, on their seventh consecutive win, caught up with leaders Gor Mahia at the top of the SPL table with 27 points.
Western Stima 1-1 Kariobangi Sharks (Moi Stadium)
Kariobangi Sharks influential midfielder Mathew Odongo provided the assist in the 25th minute of the game for burly forward Masud Juma to shake the net.
Stima’s pressure paid off when Pascal Ogweno cluttered the ball into his own net six minutes to the end.
Zoo Kericho 1-1 Sony Sugar (Kericho Green Stadium)
Geoffrey Gichana gave Zoo the lead after making the most of a good pass from Bernard Odhiambo to nicely guide his effort home.
Sony pressed hard for the equalizer that duly came via reliable and long-serving midfielder Marwa Chamberi.
Additional reporting by kpl
