Sofapaka Level With Gor At SPL Summit, Rangers Scorch Mt. Kenya

14th April 2019 - by SPN Correspondent

Late penalty secures Batoto ba Mungu 1-0 victory over KCB, free-falling bottom side hammered 6-2 as Leopards game at Awendo is rained off

Tusker FC celebrate scoring against Kariobangi Sharks FC during their SportPesa Premier League clash at MISC Kasarani on Sunday, April 14, 2019. PHOTO/Tusker FC

SUMMARY

Title hopefuls Mathare United FC came off on the wrong end of a 0-2 defeat to Ulinzi Stars FC as SportPesa Shield champions Kariobangi Sharks FC went down by the same margin to 11-time league winners Tusker FC in other notable results.
Mathare are only a point and a place above 11-time league champions Tusker FC who silenced SportPesa Cup holders Sharks (31) at the MISC Kasarani in Nairobi in an outcome that saw the latter drop down to eighth
Rangers moved out of the danger zone to 15th on 21 points when they mauled free-falling Mount Kenya in the first game of the day

NAIROBI, Kenya- Sofapaka FC left it very late to move level on points with champions Gor Mahia FC, Posta Rangers FC ran riot against sinking basement side, Mount Kenya United FC by blowing them apart 6-2 in Sunday's SportPesa Premier League (SPL) action.

Title hopefuls Mathare United FC came off on the wrong end of a 0-2 defeat to Ulinzi Stars FC as SportPesa Shield champions Kariobangi Sharks FC went down by the same margin to 11-time league winners Tusker FC in other notable results.

Elsewhere, charging AFC Leopards SC were well on course to continue their roaring form when Whyvonne Isuza gave them a one goal lead in the third minute at the Awendo Green Stadium in their clash away to Sony Sugar FC before torrential downpour saw the match abandoned.

Sofapaka are now tied at the top on points at 44 with absent champions Gor when a 93rd minute penalty from Umaru Kasumba saw the 2009 title winners escape with a 1-0 victory over KCB FC in Sunday's late kick off.

Bandari FC (42) had earlier moved up above Sofapaka when they laboured to a 2-1 victory at Western Stima FC in another SPL encounter played under the showers where both teams finished with 10 men.

Seasoned striker and captain, Allan Wanga once again led Kakamega Homeboyz FC from the front when he produced the winner on the road against neighbours Vihiga United FC.

Chemelil Sugar FC piled on the misery on Zoo Kericho FC when they romped to a 2-0 home victory over the side that lies second from bottom in another Sunday 3pm local time (+3GMT) kick off.

Batoto ba Mungu who have played four more games than Gor were almost enduring a frustrating afternoon against the stubborn bankers until KCB captain Michael Kibwage was penalised for hacking down Titus Echesa in time added on.

Uganda Kasumba stepped up to drill the resultant spot-kick home by sending Omar Adisa the wrong way.

At Afraha Stadium in Nakuru, 2010 champions Ulinzi snapped their three-game winless run in emphatic fashion when they added another dent to the ambitions of Mathare clinching a second crown following their 2008 success.

Maximum points

After the keenly-contested game went into the break level at 0-0, the soldiers secured maximum points when Elvis Nandwa and Oscar Wamalwa hit the target in the 60th and 78th minutes of the contest.

The result left the Slum Boys fifth on 35 points, nine adrift of champions Gor who were away on CAF Confederations Cup duty in Morocco.

Mathare are only a point and a place above 11-time league champions Tusker FC who silenced SportPesa Cup holders Sharks (31) at the MISC Kasarani in Nairobi in an outcome that saw the latter drop down to eighth.

Another second half salvo proved the difference with Timothy Otieno heading Tusker ahead in the 64th before Amon Muchiri added the second nine minutes later to seal the victory in the same manner as the opener.

At the Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega, Wanga missed a 10th minute penalty after Luke Namanda was upended in the box but the Harambee Stars striker failed to beat Levis Opiyo in the Vihiga goal after Homeboyz sprung a devastating counter attack after being on the ropes from the start.

It only took six minutes for SPL top scorer to make atone for his miss when he headed the ball past Opiyo from an Ali Bhai free-kick.

In Kisumu, SportPesa Cup beaten finalists Bandari fell behind to Stima at the Kericho Green Stadium but Brian Otieno headed the Dockers level when he towered over the home side's defence for 1-1.

Stima keeper Samuel Odhiambo was then red carded when he got into a scuffle with Benjamin Mosha after handling the ball outside the box when the Dockers deployed a quick raid.

On the stroke of the hour mark, Bandari went ahead when the unmarked Yema Mwana was picked out by William Wadri to convert as the heavens opened up with vengeance in Kericho.

Fred Nkata then received his marching orders to level the field with five minutes left for a crude tackle but Bandari held on to their advantage.

Rangers moved out of the danger zone to 15th on 21 points when they mauled free-falling Mount Kenya in the first game of the day.

SUNDAY SPL RESULTS (all 3pm kick offs unless stated)

Posta Rangers 6 - 2 Mt. Kenya United

Chemelil Sugar 2 - 0 Zoo FC

Kariobangi Sharks 0 - 2 Tusker FC

SoNy Sugar 0 - 1 AFC Leopards (match abandoned)

Ulinzi Stars 2 - 0 Mathare United

Vihiga United 0 - 1 Kakamega Homeboyz

Western Stima 1 - 2 Bandari

KCB 0 - 1 Sofapaka (4:15pm)