NAIROBI, Kenya, September 14 – A high scoring Saturday in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) saw AFC Leopards title winning ambitions caged by Chemelil Sugar who caned them 3-1 at their second home in Mumias as 2009 champions, Sofapaka, moved back to second by edging hosts Thika United 3-2.
At the Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega, Western Stima recovered from conceding after only 43 seconds to pile relegation woes on Muhoroni Youth by electrocuting them 4-2 as the usually low scoring league served a rare goal fest.
Despite packing the Mumias Sports Complex, Ingwe faithful left the stadium with tails between their legs when their bogey team Chemelil clicked to leave their slim title ambitions in tatters to extend their unbeaten sequence against Leopards to ten years.
Jonathan Mwaniki found the net with barely four minutes on the clock and after composing themselves without threatening the cane cutters, Edwin Seda, levelled matters on 21 minutes.
Luc Eymael’s Leopards were given no time to execute the Belgian’s pep talk since seconds after the restart, Victor Omondi gave Chemelil the lead before Jared Obwoge sealed the points by beating Patrick Matasi with a header 15 minutes to full time.
In Thika, Sofapaka climbed above KCB to second by coming on top of a five-goal ping pong at the Thika Municipal stadium.
Mustapha Kasolo opened the scoring for the 2009 titleholders in the second minute when he gobbled up Hillary Echesa’s through-ball before former league leaders Thika were hauled level by Wycliffe Opondo in the 21st.
Bernard Mangoli gave Sofapaka the lead shortly after half time before Anthony Kimani made it 3-1 with a low strike past Lucas Indeche in the Thika goal.
Dennis Odhiambo set up a grand stand finish when he reduced the arrears to 3-2 in the 65th minute from a Harambee Stars international, Francis Kahata, headed pass but try as they might, the equaliser failed to materialise as Thika’s descent down the table continues.
In Kakamega, Collins Neto, scored arguably the fastest goal this season when a defensive mix-up between defender and goal keeper David Juma, saw him sneak in and tuck away a 43 second opener for Muhoroni Youth to leave hosts Western Stima red-faced.
Shafik Batambuze capitalised on suicidal defending to equalise with eight minutes in and Dennis Okangi scored the first of his brace on 19 minutes to give Stima a 2-1 lead. The frenetic start to the game saw Ebrahim Ateng net from the spot for 2-2.
Okangi closed the entertaining half by sending the hosts 3-2 ahead a minute before the breather before both sides resumed play with none of the vim displayed in the opening 45.
With more than seven minutes added on after regulation time, Enock Ochieng curled the ball expertly to the net to sign off the afternoon with the best goal of the match.
Leaders Gor Mahia will have one hand on the crown if they nail champions Tusker at City Stadium on Sunday in the first gave to be televised on High Definition in East Africa as Bandari host the 2010 titleholders Ulinzi at Mbaraki Stadium in Mombasa.
– Material from SuperSport.com was used in this report
