Homeboyz, Sofapaka knocked out of Cup c*mpet*tion as KCB and Kenya Police reach semi-finals
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League outfits Kenya Police and KCB stormed the semi-finals of the Mozzart Bet Cup following their respective victories in quarterfinal matches played at the new Dandora Stadium on Saturday.
The Bankers were the first to put their leg in the last four of the domestic knockout competition following their hard-fought 1-0 victory against the outgoing champions Kakamega Homeboyz.
In an evenly contested fixture, Homeboyz looked the better side in the opening exchanges and they should have taken the lead in the 12th minute when Oliver Machaka teed up the onrushing Moses Mudavadi with a superb cross, but the veteran player saw his weak effort saved by goalkeeper Farouk Shikhalo.
Homeboyz then missed another sitter in the 34th minute, this time a combination between Machaka and Estone Esiye setting up Ambrose Sifuna, and despite Sifuna being in a position to score, he blasted his right-footed effort wide. The two teams went into the half-time break tied at 0-0 and on resumption, the Bankers started to attack Homeboyz from all angles.
Their pressure paid off in the 59th minute when Danson Namasaka slid home a cross from Brian Ndenga past Homeboyz custodian James Ssetuba. Namasaka was then withdrawn in the 61st minute for Derrick Otanga and the new introduction also doubled KCB’s lead but his effort from close range was punched out and later turned to be a fruitless corner by Shikhalo.
In the 87th minute, KCB suffered a blow when Farraj Ominde was taken off injured on a stretcher and was replaced by Bernard Odhiambo. The Bankers, however, managed to keep hold of their scoreline to win the game and reach the last four.
“It was a difficult game against the defending champions and we had to be patient to get the win, I told my players to keep cool and play their game, attack and defend when necessary and I am happy we got a good chance which we scored from to make the difference and reach the last four,” KCB coach Bernard Mwalala said after the game.
In the second quarter-final, Kenya Police reached their first-ever semi-final after thrashing former winners Sofapaka 4-0. David Okoth opened the scoring for the law enforcers in the 24th minute and they should have scored more before the game ended 1-0 in their favour at the half-time break.
Former Gor Mahia striker Samuel Onyango drilled home the second in the 54th minute before he scored the third, his second of the day in the 69th minute and Marvin Nabwire powered home the fourth in the 90th minute.
“We looked dangerous from the start and taking the early lead worked in our favour, we needed to push for more goals but in the second half we looked even much better to score three more, it was a fantastic win for the lads, and we now look forward to the semis,” said Police coach Salim Babu.
Interestingly, the two teams were meeting for the second time in a week, Police having been forced to come from a goal down to beat Batoto ba Mungu 2-1 in a Premier League fixture.
