Thika see off Ulinzi in WPL opener
Former Kenya Women’s Premier League champions Thika Queens capitalised on Ulinzi Starlets’ mistakes to pick a 2-1 win and bag maximum points as the new season commenced on Sunday.
Playing at Utalii Sports Grounds where Ulinzi were hosts, the military side dominated in the first half of the match but could not break Thika’s defence for an opener.
In the last 15 minutes of the first half the tide changed and Thika pressed for a goal but their efforts fell short as the match headed for the breather in a barren draw.
Richard Kanyi’s pep-talk at the break must have jolted his charges into action as they were the dominant side in the second half, denying Ulinzi scoring chances at will.
Experienced striker Fauzia Omar gave Thika the opener in the 73rd minute after beating two Ulinzi defenders and with the goalkeeper exposed, she tapped in from close range to take the former champions up.
Youngster Sarah Idza punished Ulinzi’s poor defence, having gone all out in attack in search of an equaliser, sending a shot that Ulinzi’s keeper deflected into her own goal in the 81st minute.
The military side’s lone goal was scored from the spot by Jentrix Kayudi in the 89th minute after she was brought down in the box.
Despite being the better side in the last quarter of the match, Ulinzi’s mistakes in defence gave Thika the win as Lady Luck failed to smile on them, losing several easy goal scoring chances.
“We played well given that I had to make do without some key players who returned positive Covid-19 results after our tests on Thursday.
We wished these tests would have been done well in time but we have no option but to play without those players.
We missed open scoring chances and our opponents made good use of theirs and thus the loss. However, despite the loss we will finish top of our zone, “ said Ulinzi tactician Joseph Mwanza.
