NAIROBI, Kenya, March 4- AFC Leopards literally stole the march from hosts Ulinzi FC by beating them 2-0 at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on Sunday in a feisty Kenyan Premier League (KPL) encounter.
The tie of the weekend lived-up to the billing as second half goals from Jonas Nahimana and Allan Wanga saw the military side’s armoury raided to keep the marauding Leopards on top of the standings on ten points.
Ulinzi have themselves to blame as they made a hero out of Leopard’s custodian Patrick Matasi who saved two penalties that would have at least earned a point for the 2010 titleholders.
“I don’t know what happened. I cannot explain it. This was a game we should have won,” Ulinzi beleaguered coach, Benjamin Nyangweso said in his post match comment as his side slumped to their second defeat of the season.
Defender Eric Masika upended last season’s KPL top scorer, Stephen Waruru in the box as Ulinzi’s first half pressure told and the forward dusted himself to take the resultant penalty only for Matasi to palm away his shot.
Four minutes after the break, Nahimana showed Waruru how it should be done from the spot when he tucked away his shot after Stephen Ocholla brought down Jimmy Bageya in the box.
The goal was followed by the Leopards players marching and aiming imaginary gun shots in the air in mockery of the celebration patented by Ulinzi in their title winning season much to the delight of the travelling Ingwe fans.
Then, the highly charged encounter looked set to turn on its head in the 55th when referee Nasoor Ndoka pointed to the spot when Nahimana handled Waruru’s goal bound shot.
Up stepped Kevin Amwayi but his strike could not beat the wall that was Matasi in the Ingwe goal.
In the 70th minute, Wanga, who scored Kenya’s winning strike against Togo on Wednesday, continued his fine form in front of goal when he beat Ulinzi keeper Jacktone Odhiambo with a beautifully arched free-kick to put the result beyond doubt.
