Posta end 10-match skid with win over AFC Leopards

Posta Rangers ended a 10-match winless run with a 2-0 win over 13-time champions AFC Leopards in a SportPesa Premier League (SPL) match at the Narok County Stadium on Saturday.

Joackins Atudo opened the scoring in the fifth minute before turning provider for Dennis Mukaisi’s 34th minute strike.

Posta – who recorded their first win against Ingwe in two years - move to 43 points, 10 ahead of 12th placed Leopards after 29 rounds. Both teams played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg played in Nakuru in April.

“We have players who don’t fit the calibre needed to play for a club like Leopards. There’s nothing we can do at this time of the season but to keep fighting until the end of the season,” an agitated Leopards coach Robert Matano said.

Posta Rangers assistant coach George Maina, standing in for the suspended Sammy Omollo, praised his players for a good display.

“We had a strategy that worked today and I must congratulate my players for the fighting spirit. We’ve been working hard to end the poor run and I am happy the win came against such an opponent,” he said.

Matano fielded Robinson Kamura and Duncan Otieno at the back while Alexis Kitenge, Vincent Oburu and Aziz Okaka led the attacking line.

Maina had a rare partnership in defence with Charles Odette playing alongside Luke Ochieng’ as skipper Atudo was shifted to the right.

What seemed a bright start for Leopards was undone by Atudo’s tap in five minutes into the match after goalkeeper Ian Otieno misjudged Ochieng’s long throw in.

John Nairuka thought he had doubled their lead after 13 minute, but his goal was rightly ruled out for an offside.

Odette then deflected a long shot from Duncan Otieno after 21 minutes but Ingwe wasted the resultant corner kick.

Then Leopards survived. Gerson Likono failed to direct in another trademark Ochieng’ thrown in at the half hour mark, this time missing the target with Otieno beaten in goal.

Mukaisi doubled the lead after some nice work involving Gerald Obwoge and Atudo. Obwoge exchanged passes with Atudo before the skipper floated in a long ball in Leopards box, which Mukaisi did well to head past Otieno for a 2-0 lead.

Matano, desperate for a response, pulled out jaded Samuel Ndung’u for Musa Mudde in the 39th minute but his change yielded nothing before the breather.

Marcellus Ingotsi and Harun Nyakha came on for Kitenge and Whyvonne Isuza in the 46th and 75th minute respectively while Posta introduced Simon Mbugua, Kennedy Otieno and Titus Achesa to defend their lead.

Nyakha and Oburu went close but all their attempts were stopped by Patrick Matasi.

Leopards face Ulinzi Stars in Nakuru on Wednesday before playing Kariobangi Sharks in the GOtv Shield final on October 20. Posta host Zoo Kericho on October 22.