Sofapaka thump Homeboyz as visiting Bandari pip Mathare Utd
Sofapaka finally regained their winning ways in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League with a resounding 3-1 dispatch of Kakamega Homeboyz at Kasarani Annex yesterday.
Batoto Ba Mungu, who were going into the match with an uninspiring 1-1 draw with Nairobi City Stars, were in their true element with Congolese Roddie Manga driving them into the lead barely two minutes into the action.
Despite SofapaKa leading in the early exchanges, It was a tightly contested game before Abana Beingo went to slumber thus giving leeway for Sebastien Sunday to stretch the former’s lead with an opportunistic strike in the 55th minute.
Homeboyz would then momentarily pick themselves up and duly pulled one back through Micheal Karamor but this could not stop Sofapaka from drilling in the winning goal in the 80th minute when Simon Munala made no mistake with a penalty after an infringement inside the box.
The result saw both teams swap places in the league chart with Sofapaka jumping from the 11th spot, which had been held by Homeboyz, to the tenth.
Homeboyz now remains winless in three matches and will have to produce a spectacular performance if they hope to claim the title that they almost won last season.
In the meantime, giant-killing Mathare United found their waterloo after falling 1-0 to Bandari at the same venue.
Ugandan journeyman Umaru Kasumba, who has had stints with Uganda Revenue Authority, Sofapaka and Zambia’s Zesco among others, scored the goal that knocked the winds out of the sails of the slum boys who had bruised the egos of Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards prior to the fixture.
Elsewhere at Sudi Stadium in Bungoma, Kenya Police talismanic striker, Elvis Rupia stretched his goal-scoring tally to fourteen as his team forced restricted hosts Nzoia Sugar to a 2-2 draw.
However, it was Nzoia who were quicker off the blocks and they raced to the lead in the 47th minute when Joseph KIbandec cashed in on loose marking to put the ball at the back of the net.
Three minutes later, Rupia, a national team call-up for the upcoming friendly against Iran, restored parity for the law enforcers with a half volley.
Joseph Mwangi, another inclusion in Harambee Stars, restored Nzoia’s lead before former KCB FCF man Derrick Otanga assured Police of a share of the spoils with a blockbuster inside the box.
At Nyayo Stadium, AFC Leopards atoned for the 1-0 defeat by Mathare to pelt Post Rangers by a similar margin.
Leopards had a huge chunk of the match in the first half and were rewarded for their efforts as early as the 6th minute when Cliff Nyakeya found himself with acres of space to score.
At Ulinzi Complex, Ulinzi Stars squandered an early lead to draw 2-1 with a resurgent Tusker.
Meanwhile, Gor Mahia will be angling for revenge when they face KCB in a potential cliffhanger at Kasarani Annex today.
KCB beat Gor 1-0 in the first leg encounter and will be desirous to make a repeat but whether they have the pedigree for the same against Gor led by red-hot striker Benson Omalla remains to be seen.
