Bandari Beat Vihiga To Go Joint-Top, 10-Man Sharks Edge Homeboyz

MOMBASA, Kenya- SportPesa Cup finalists Bandari FC beat Vihiga United FC 2-0 in a SportPesa Premier League (SPL) match staged at Mbaraki Stadium in Mombasa on Tuesday to move to second place in the standings.

David Kingatua scored a thunderous shot from a free kick to give the dockers a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute.The winners added a second goal in the 77th to seal the sweet victory.

The win saw Bandari, who still have a game in hand, move to SPL second place where they are now tied on 25 points with leaders Mathare United FC after seven wins, four draws and one loss.

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Mathare suffered a heavy 1-4 defeat against Sofapaka FC at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on the day.

At Bukhungu in Kakamega, 10-man Kariobangi Sharks FC edged hosts Kakamega Homeboyz FC 1-0 in a tense encounter with the solitary goal scored by Shaban Oyugi in the ninth minute.

Posta Rangers FC ended their seven match winless streak with a 2-0 victory over Nzoia Sugar FC at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.

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Veteran defender Joackins Atudo opened the scoring before forward Cavin Odongo secured the points with a stoppage time strike. 

Nzoia keeper Benson Mangala pulled a huge save to deny Rangers the opener in the eighth minute. 

A quick one-two between Raymond Omondi and Francis Nambute put Rangers through on goal but Mangala came off his line to block the shot with his chest.

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Five minutes later, Nzoia forward Patrick Otieno robbed the ball off Joseph Mbugi before he raced towards the goal but his shot cum cross veered off target. 

Moments later, Nzoia had another chance through Stephen Etyang but he slid and his attempt went off target.

Nzoia midfielder Jackson Dwang was the next to try his luck at the half hour mark but his shot failed to trouble Rangers custodian Eliud Emase. Nambute came close moments later, but his shot also missed the opponents goal mouth narrowly.

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The match gradually turned to an end to end affair with few chances between the sides before the first half ended in a barren draw.

Rangers became aggressive on resumption, creating quick successive chances. Dennis Nandwa did well to block a Peter Ng'ang'a’s  shot just outside the box in the 48th and two minutes later, Odongo headed a Collins Omondi’s  cross over the bar. It was followed by another Mutembei’s header from a delivered cross by Ng'ang'a.

Now in total control of the game, Rangers continued to push for a goal with shots from Simon Mbugua, Odongo and Omondi going wide.

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The pressure finally paid off in the 77th when Atudo gave Rangers the  lead after Nzoia defenders failed to clear a John Nairuka’s  freekick which Atudo pounced on to bundle the ball home with a fierce shot.

Odongo then sealed the win in stoppage time with a low shot inside the area after some good work from Nambute on the left flank.

Collated SPL Results

Posta Rangers FC 2 0  Nzoia Sugar FC- Machakos

Mathare United FC 1 4  Sofapaka FC-Kasarani

K.Homeboyz FC 0 1 Kariobangi Sharks FC-Bukhungu

Bandari FC 2 0 Vihiga United FC-Mbaraki

-Material from Kevin Teya used to compile this report