NAIROBI, Kenya, April 16- Kenya Premier League (KPL) leaders AFC Leopards are six points clear at the summit after their perennial rivals Gor Mahia beat closest challengers Sofapaka over the weekend to bring their unbeaten run of matches to 23 since last season.
It was the second loss in three matches for Sofapaka, a result that leaves the 2009 champions second on 20 points on goal difference where they were joined by Chemelil who ousted KCB by 1-0 at their backyard.
The Salim Ali led side will be looking to redeem themselves when they host Thika next weekend as they seek to lift the title they won on their promotion to the top flight.
The win for Gor at the City stadium came after Rama Salim scored the winner from the spot minutes from halftime to give K’Ogalo their first victory in eight games in a result that lifted them to 10th on 10 points.
Coach Zdravko Logarusic changes seem to be taking effect with skipper Jerim Onyango back between the posts in place of Wycliffe Kasaya as they registered their second win of the season since they beat Thika 2-0 at the start of the season.
Despite lacking the services of top scorer Allan Wanga Ingwe preserved their unbeaten run through goals by Victor Ochieng and Mike Baraza although a defensive lapse saw the host equalize through the returning Moses Arita.
Chemelil are in third after edging KCB 1-0 in a rain soaked match played on Sunday. The sugar millers recovered from last week’s defeat to Ulinzi Stars and are now level with Sofapaka as Edward Manoah’s side continue their unexpected march to the title.
Defending champions Tusker had a good chance to close on the leading pair but slipped to fourth on 19 after they were held to a 2-2 draw by a hard fighting Mathare United who recovered from two goals down in an engaging clash at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.
The brewers next assignment away to Leopards will be a keen one to watch since the Cats have proven to be the invincible this season.
The slum boys who had captain Anthony Kimani make his first start in over a month score the equalizer to take them to 12th on nine points continuing their impressive run under coach new coach Stanley Okumbi.
Thika despite the return of their marksman Arita are still a distant fifth on 14 as they share a tie on points with Western Stima and Muhoroni Youth who are in sixth and seventh positions respectively.
Stima managed the biggest win of the weekend after hammering new boys Oserian 3-0 who now lie 14th while Muhoroni beat 13th placed Sony Sugar 1-0 to pile pressurize on coach Zedekiah Otieno whose side has not been performing to expectations this term.
Oserian and Sony tie at eight points in a position they would not want to stick at as it leaves them close to the drop zone.
They will have to work harder in the upcoming fixtures beginning next weekend when Oserian face a new comers battle against a rather impressive Muhoroni while Sony host another feeble side Rangers.
Karuturi Sports who were held to a goalless draw away by struggling Rangers are eighth on 13.
Coach Jaffery Gichuki will have to go back to the drawing board to change the fortunes of the club who are still staring at relegation having managed eight points from nine matches but have a game in hand against KCB.
2010 champions Ulinzi Stars were held to a barren draw by ten man City Stars at the Nyayo on Sunday a result that leaves them ninth with 12 points while City are still in familiar territory as last season as they languish at the basement on seven points from 10 matches.
Results
Saturday
Muhoroni Youth 1 – 0 Sony Sugar
Rangers 0 – 0 Karuturi Sports
Thika United 1 – 2 AFC Leopards
Western Stima 3 – 0 Oserian
Sunday
Tusker 2 – 2 Mathare United
Chemelil 1 – 0 KCB
Gor Mahia 1 – 0 Sofapaka
City Stars 0 – 0 Ulinzi Stars
Log
Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 AFC 10 8 2 0 20 6 14 26
2 Sofapaka 10 6 2 2 12 7 5 20
3 Chemelil 10 6 2 2 8 4 4 20
4 Tusker 10 5 4 1 12 6 6 19
5 Thika 10 3 5 2 13 8 5 14
6 Stima 10 4 2 4 12 9 3 14
7 Muhoroni 10 4 2 4 8 8 0 14
8 Karuturi 10 3 4 3 8 7 1 13
9 Ulinzi 10 3 3 4 13 15 -2 12
10 KCB 9 3 2 4 10 9 1 11
11 Gor 10 2 4 4 5 7 -2 10
12 Mathare 10 2 3 5 10 15 -5 9
13 Sony 10 2 2 6 7 11 -4 8
14 Oserian 10 2 2 6 6 14 -8 8
15 Rangers 9 1 5 3 8 18 -10 8
16 City 10 1 4 5 4 12 -8 7
