Rowdy fans disrupt Leopards semis match against Sofapaka
Kenya Police get ready to fire teargas to fans after AFC Leopard match against Sofapaka was disrupted during their GOtv shield match on October 20, 2014 at City Stadium. The GOtv Shield semi-final match ended in ugly scenes of crowd trouble, with police firing tear gas canisters at protesting AFC Leopards fans. FILE PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Trouble started when Anthony Ndolo scored Sofapaka’s second goal in the 86th minute to add to Enoch Agwanda’s first half strike, prompting a section of AFC Leopards fans to start hurling missiles onto the pitch.
- Ndolo would double Sofapaka’s lead late in the match when he deflected in a free kick which had trickled through Leopards’s defensive wall. It was then that all hell broke loose forcing the match to abort.
The GOtv Shield semi-final match between AFC Leopards and Sofapaka at City Stadium on Monday ended in ugly scenes of crowd trouble, with police firing tear gas canisters at protesting AFC Leopards fans.
Trouble started when Anthony Ndolo scored Sofapaka’s second goal in the 86th minute to add to Enoch Agwanda’s first half strike, prompting a section of AFC Leopards fans to start hurling missiles onto the pitch. Police then stepped in to arrest the situation.
But the defiant fans continued to taunt the Police even after the players had left the pitch, forcing the law enforcers to fire live bullets to disperse the hooligans.
A number of people sustained injuries and were taken to an ambulance for first aid treatment as the mayhem escalated. The match referee sustained injuries and journalists covering the match were not spared either.
Before the chaos erupted, Felly Mulumba was outstanding in Sofapaka’s defence throughout the match and on several occasions thwarted Leopards’ efforts.
Agwanda struck Batoto ba Mungu’s opening goal in the 27th minute after pouncing on a through ball on the right flank to drill in a low shot past the advancing Leopards’ goalkeeper Patrick Matasi.
PENALTY SHOOTOUT
Ingwe pressed hard for an equalizer but Sam Timbe’s men stood firm and Agwanda almost made it a brace eight minutes to the interval but he met Abdoul Fiston’s pass with his weaker left foot and was dispossessed by Bernard Mang’oli.
Ndolo would double Sofapaka’s lead late in the match when he deflected in a free kick which had trickled through Leopards’s defensive wall. It was then that all hell broke loose forcing the match to abort.
Earlier on at the same venue, former KPL side Posta rangers booked their ticket to the final with a 10-9 post-match penalties victory over West Kenya after a barren draw.
West Kenya was the better team in the first half but they fluffed numerous chances which proved costly.
Rangers returned stronger in the second half, but they too could not convert their chances forcing the match to go into the lottery of penalty shootout.
