Sofapaka put Gor to the sword to blow league race wide open

League title chasers Sofapaka on Sunday picked three crucial points from leaders Gor Mahia with a deserved 3-2 win.

The highly physical encounter was however stopped three times as crowd trouble visited repeatedly visited the stands.

Sofapaka goalkeeper David Okello was assaulted by an agitated fan towards the end of the match just after Gor Mahia scored their second goal prompting some fans to invade the pitch.

It was a difficult, tense match but it was Sofapaka who ultimately triumphed after rallying from a goal down early in the contest.

Victory moved Batoto ba Mungu to 53 points just one behind K’Ogalo setting up what should now be a grandstand finish to the season.

Sofapaka missed their reliable defender Felly Mulumba through suspension and in his absence Sofapaka struggled especially in the opening moments.

Sofapaka levelled the scores in the 18th minute when John Njoroge delivered an inviting cross to the unmarked Burundian national Abdul Razalk who chested the ball and rifled home after beating Harun Shakava.

Sam Timbe’s men came back a different team after the break and it took them only eight minutes for Fiston to grab his brace by heading in Agwanda’s long throw in past Jerim Onyango.

CHANGED TACK

Gor Mahia coach Frank Nuttal summoned the fresh legs of Patrick Oboya when his side appeared to be going down, but the home team added another goal shortly afterwards through the enterprising Ekaliani Ndolo.

Gor would pull back one goal in the 83rd minute from Geoffrey ‘Baba’ Kizito’s rebound.

“We started very well, but we lost it a little bit in the second half. We shall however keep fighting on till the end,” Nuttal said.

At the Moi Stadium in Kisumu, Michael Khamati came from the bench to score as AFC Leopards beat Chemelil Sugar 1-0.

The win moved Leopards to position six on the log on 38 points. The match started on a high note with Chemelil earning the first free kick of the afternoon in the second minute only for Hillary Echesa to shoot wide.

In the tenth minute Ingwe won the first corner kick of the match but it yielded nothing as the sugar millers shot stopper Samuel Olwande ably dealt with it.

Chemelil then opted to change tack by launching counter attacks only for Stephen Wakhaya to squander a golden chance.

SURVIVED RELEGATION
After the interval, Chemelil coach Mike Mururi brought in Willis Ouma in place of Innocent Wafula, a move that almost bore fruits when Meshack Karani out muscled towering Joseph Shikokoti but his shot went over the post.

Ingwe coach Pieter de Jongh responded by introducing match winner Khamati for Austine Ikenne.

Mururi blamed his team’s defeat on the artificial turf. “We are not used to playing on this turf and the temperatures really derailed our efforts,” said Mururi.

His counterpart, De Jongh was however content with the result. “We are aiming at finishing in the top five, but I’m delighted by the result,” he said. At the Mombasa Municipal, Stadium, Bandari survived relegation with a precious point following a 1-1 draw with KCB.

Bruno Sserunkuma put the dockers ahead in the  25th minute but the bankers equalized from the spot in the 68th minute through George Odhiambo.