Rampant Leopards Disarm Police To Book Cup Semi Final Slot

KAKAMEGA, Kenya- Charging holders AFC Leopards SC raided the Kenya Police FC armoury and escaped with a handsome 4-1 thrashing to storm to the semi finals of the SportPesa Shield Cup on Saturday at Bukhungu Stadium.

Smarting from two successive losses in the SportPesa Premier League (SPL) Ingwe disarmed the law enforcers in an accomplished display that made a heavy statement in their quest to retain the trophy at their spiritual home in Kakamega.

Four different players got their names on the scoresheet with star midfielder Whyvonne Isuza opening the scoring and returning top-scorer Ezekiel Odera followed suit. 

Eugene Mukangula, who displayed a man-of-the-match performance on the day, scored the third for Leopards before Brian Marita got the fourth later in the second half as the cup champions joined fellow SPL side Ulinzi Stars FC who hammered River Plate FC by the same margin earlier at the same venue in the last four. 

Saad Musa missed a penalty for the home side in added time and the resounding win could not have come at a better time for Leopards who were smarting from two straight defeats at the hands of eternal rivals Gor Mahia FC (1-2) and a painful upset by Wazito FC in midweek. 

Leopards started the game well and Mukangula's free kick in the third minute was the first real chance, with the Police goalkeeper pulling off a fine save. 

Beautiful cross

Mukangula was the most lively in the Leopards first 11 and he sent in a beautiful cross into the area which Isuza was unable to connect perfectly with as another chance went a begging. 

The follow-up was met by Odera, who was back in the line up after recovering from a minor injury, but his effort did not trouble the goalkeeper. 

Isuza controlled the ball majestically before sending a teasing ball into the penalty area in the 15th but Odera’s header went wide. 

It was Isuza’s name that the Ingwe fans chanted first as he produced a sublime finish from Mukangula’s assist two minutes later to give the home team a 1-0 lead. 

Leopards dominated possession for most of the opening half, with former Harambee Stars striker, Patrick Oboya’s shot off target being the only attempt by the second-tier National Super League side Police could muster up till the half hour mark. 

Baker Lukooya, who had been rather quiet throughout the match, produced a moment of brilliance with a cheeky ball in the danger area that Odera met to score with a diving header, giving Ingwe a two-goal lead. 

On the stroke of half time, Oboya gave away the ball on the halfway line and Odera pounced on it, sprinting down the flank and laying it off for Mukangula to make it 3-1. 

The second half began with the pace the first ended with, Mukangula again in the thick of things with a dangerous cross into the box but it was too high for Odera. 

With an hour on the clock, Leopards continued to launch attack after attack and Mukangula came close again sending a left footed shot inches away from the goal. 

Leopards head coach Rodolfo Zapata made the first change of the half, taking off Dennis Sikhayi and replacing him with Aziz Okaka. 

Odera went close again in the 64th with his right-footed shot at goal went inches wide as Leopards seemed to be looking to add onto their goal tally for the day. 

Their resilience paid off in the 67th when Mukangula fed Isuza in space on the left flank and his pin point cross into the box was headed into the net by Marita for a 4-0 score. 

After a double switch by Police, Leopards in tune made a change bringing on Edward Seda for Said Tsuma. 

Besieged Police finally registered an attempt on goal in the second half with a weak headed effort that Owade easily gathered in the 73rd. 

Three minutes later the cops managed to get on the scoresheet and get a consolation goal following a corner via an own goal. 

Minutes after Mukangula did well in the box to set Seda up with a cheeky back heel which the latter scored but the fourth official raised the flag for offside. 

Leopards were having the time of their lives on the pitch and continued to tailor great play resulting in numerous attacks toward the opponents goal as the minutes faded. 

They even got unlucky as a right-footed screamer from Seda hit the upright in the 83rd. 

After the official signalled for three minutes to be added on, Leopards went flying toward the Police goal and were awarded a penalty which Musa stepped up and missed from the spot. 

Leopards will now play the winner from the Tusker FC versus Sofapaka FC match at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Sunday.