Mathare United midfielder Whyvonne Isuza takes on Sofapaka’s Erick Ochieng. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 5- Whyvonne Isuza scored a penalty in the 11th minute of added as Mathare United came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Sofapaka, dimming Batoto ba Mungu’s hopes of survival.
Sofapaka remain 15th on the log after the result, three points off Ushuru and heading into the final game of the season, the 2009 Kenyan Premier League champions must beat Thika United and hope Posta Rangers beat the tax men for them to survive.
“It is unfortunate we had to drop points from a late penalty, but all the same we have ourselves to blame because we threw away so many chances. We still have a chance and it is that hope that will keep us fighting,” Sofapaka coach John Baraza said after the match.
There were 17 minutes of added time in the match, coming on after Francis Kimanzi refused to leave the field of play early in the second half after being sent off for remonstrating with the match referee.
Kimanzi only had to go to the stands after the intervention of chairman Bob Munro who came down to the pitch to ask his coach to leave.
After the match, Kimanzi was still fuming with the officiating and accused the referee of ‘trying to balance play’ after sending him to the stands.
Mathare United chairman Bob Munro had to intervene to convince Francis Kimanzi to go to the stands after being sent off. PHOTO/raymond Makhaya
Sofapaka had a dream start to the match, opening the scores after ten minutes with Paul Odhiambo hitting into the net from close range after the mathare defense struggled to clear away a Noah Abich freekick.
They doubled their lead in the 39th minute from the penalty spot, Noah Abich scoring against his former side after Robinson Kamura axed Odhiambo inside the box after the striker broke into the area from a quickly executed counter attack.
Mathare drew level though three minutes from the break through Duke Abuya who blasted home from a Chris Oduor pass.
In the second half, Sofapaka should have had the game wrapped but Odhiambo missed a flurry of chances with the Mathare side caught flat out.
He missed an opportunity one on one with Mboya before meekly heading straight to Robert Mboya from a Moses Odhiambo cross.
Isuza then melted Sofapaka hearts with a late penalty, taking responsibility on his own shoulders after being brought down by keeper Mathews Kigonya from a quickly executed counter attack.
Elsewhere, Posta Rangers who only this week sent their two coaches Zedekiah Otieno and John Maina ‘on leave’ bounced back from a run of four winless matches with a 2-1 result over Sony Sugar to seal a top eight finish.
Heading into the final games of the season, all the top eight slots have been filled and save for the title and relegation fights, all other matches will be for pride.
