Bandari Edge Sharks To Go Top Of SPL, Wanga Returns To Haunt Tusker

NAIROBI, Kenya- Bandari FC got the perfect revenge on Kariobangi Sharks FC as they edged the SportPesa Cup champions 1-0 to take charge of the domestic top flight on Saturday at the Kasarani Stadium.

The repeat of last month’s final in Dar Es Saalam was the most anticipated game of the weekend with Bandari coming into the game level on points (25) with league leaders Mathare United FC.

Yema Mwama’s second half diving header was enough for Bernard Mwalala’s side as they leapfrogged Mathare to open a three-point gap at the SportPesa Premier League (SPL) summit.

Mwalala was absent from the touchline on the day, with sources saying that he had been feeling under the weather, though the victory was a perfect reward for the 34-year old tactician.

Harambee Stars head coach Sebastian Migne was in the VIP stands at the Kasarani Stadium, as he continues to search for players to join the national team ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations later this year.

Bandari forward Mwama proved to be a handful in the opening minutes of the game and won his side a penalty in the ninth minute.

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The dockers squandered the chance to open the scoring as SportPesa Cup Most Valuable Player William Wadri saw his spot-kick well saved by John Oyemba.

The game failed to produce clear chances on goal until the 25th when Sharks captain Patilah Omotto rattled the crossbar with a thunderous effort from a free-kick.

Wadri was next to come close yet again with a good header that went inches wide seven minutes later, still neither side able to break the deadlock.

The referee blew for half-time with the score still level at 0-0.

Both coaches half-time talks seemed to have hit home, as the two sides came back for the second half clearly more hungry than they were in the entire first stanza.

Benjamin Mosha was taken off and replaced by Bandari’s top scorer for the season Wycliffe Ochomo, who barely lasted two minutes as he was stretchered off following an awkward landing in the Sharks penalty area in the 59th.

Darius Msagha took his place and William Muluya responded by bringing on last season’s Golden Boot winner Eric Kapaito for Omotto.

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Kapaito did well to send a right-footed shot toward goal in the 70th but Farouk Shikhalo was well aware of the danger and made a good save.

In the 72nd, Yema Mwama scored his fourth goal of the season with a remarkable diving header from a Moses Mudavadi cross to give the visitors the lead.

Yidah brought down Msagha outside the penalty area and gifted Bandari a great opportunity to make it two but Wadri sent his shot direct at Oyemba.

With seven minutes left on the clock, Lokale did well to set up Duke Abuya but his shot did little to trouble Shikhalo as Bandari looked as though they would hang on to the slender lead, which they did.

At the Ruaraka Stadium, former Tusker FC forward Allan Wanga scored the lone goal to haunt his former employers and condemn them to a first defeat in six games.

The Kakamega Homeboyz FC player/coach scored his fifth of the season with four minutes left in the first half to end their three-match winless streak.

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The defeat left Robert Matano’s charges in fifth on the SPL standings with 22 points, whilst Homeboyz leapfrogged Western Stima FC into seventh with 20.

Elsewhere, Chemelil Sugar FC got a very important three points to move them up four places into 13th on the SPL table and three points clear of the relegation zone after a 1-0 win over Nzoia Sugar FC.

Nzoia remain in ninth with 17 but face the risk of finishing the weekend in 12th place depending on the results from Sunday’s games.