AFC Leopards, Mathare clash crackles into a stalemate

AFC Leopards and Mathare United shared the spoils in a cracking one-all-draw at the Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday.

Earlier on at the same venue, Nairobi City Stars and Ulinzi Stars fought to a similar scoreline while hosts Thika United were held to a barred draw by Western Stima at the Thika County Stadium.

(READ: Battling City Stars hold Ulinzi at Nyayo)

At Nyayo, the muddy pitch did little to slow the pace of the game as Ingwe and the “Slum Boys” gave the fans who braved the chilly conditions a full dose of entertaining football that swung from one goalmouth to the other.

Leopards started at a cracking pace with John Ndirangu signalling his intent in the 10th minute with a bullet shot which missed the target as the displeased Mathare custodian Wycliffe Kasaya reacted with fury giving his defenders a tongue lash for loose play.

ACTION THICK AND FAST

Attacks continued to flow thick and fast but it was not until the 21st minute when Mathare’s dead ball executor Robinson Kamura whipped in a long free-kick from the right which left back David Mwangi connected in with a header for the opener.

The hungry Leopards responded instantly with Kepha Aswani’s fierce half-volley hitting the post and Paul Kiongera fluffing yet another point-blank chance in quick succession.

Despite going all out, Ingwe had to wait till the 55th minute when Aswani connected a Ndirangu cross with a neat diving header to send the partisan crowd on their feet.

Action continued to be fierce on each end of the pitch but neither side could get the winner.