Mungai Kiongera stars as AFC Leopards run riot in Mumias

AFC Leopards on Saturday ended a painful winless streak that had stretched to eight matches by emphatically sweeping aside poor Thika United 4-0 in a lop-sided Kenyan Premier League match at the Mumias Complex.

At the Moi Stadium in Kisumu, title challengers Mathare United lost 1-0 to Western Stima, while at the Coast, hosts Bandari came from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw with visiting Ushuru at the Mbaraki Sports Club.

At the Chemelil Complex, Chemelil Sugar made it two wins on the trot, eclipsing Sofapaka 2-1. Laban Gambareko and Hillary Echesa were on target for Chemelil in the 16th and 33rd minutes to seal the win, while Sofapaka scored through Enock Okwil.

Under warm conditions in Kisumu, Mathare squandered the chance to move to the summit of the league table, losing 0-1 to Stima with former Palos midfielder Kenneth Muguna curling in a superb free kick in the 56th minute to help the Henry Omino-coached side pick all the three points.

Victory would have hauled Mathare’s points tally to 33, one clear of Tusker who face Ulinzi Stars on Sunday. “The last time (we met), we dictated the tempo at Nyayo and ended up drawing 2-2. We must be happy for the win because it gives us confidence going forward,” Stima coach, Henry Omino, said.
Mathare coach Francis Kimanzi said: “We played well and our tactics worked to a certain point of the match but we were scrappy in the second half and that cost us heavily.”

KING'ATUA SCORES

At the Mbaraki Stadium, Ushuru sprung to the lead through Laminne Diallo 11 minutes after the restart before Bandari levelled in the 62nd minute via David King’atua.
Dan Sserunkuma had a golden opportunity in the 36th minute but he sent a powerful shot straight into the waiting hands of Ushuru’s goalkeeper, Barnabas Tiema.
In Mumias, action was thick and exciting, Leopards clawing their opponents with relative ease. A stormy start led to early goals with new signing Paul Mungai-Kiongera opening the floodgates in the 15th minute. Ingwe continued to pile pressure, leading to a penalty in the 48th minute. Dreadlocked Allan Katerega’s shot was punched by Thika United goalie Martin Elungat, but he slammed the rebound home to make the scoreline 2-0.

Former Thika United forward Kepha Aswani put the game beyond doubt with 17 minutes to time while midfield dynamo Bernard Mang’oli added another three minutes later.

The magnificent win was Leopards’ biggest since the season began and came as a huge relief to under- fire coach Ivan Minnaert.

REUSLTS

AFC Leopards 4-0 Thika united

Chemelil Sugar 2-1 Sofapaka

Bandari 1-1 Ushuru

Western Stima 1-0 Mathare United

Reports by Gaitano Pessa, Abdulraham Sheriff and Isaac Swila