Tusker drown KCB, Leopards claw City Stars at Nyayo

Austine Ikenna of AFC Leopards (left) attempts to go past Nairobi City Stars' David Otieno in this file photo. Today, I write with my heart in anguish. I am mourning for our neighbours, otherwise known as AFC Leopards. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Jesse Were and Ismail Dunga scored the goals to haul their points tally to 34, three shy of K’Ogalo.
  • Fit again Noah Wafula gave the big cats the opener in the sixth minute when he raced forward with the ball firmly on his fit to round the advancing City Stars custodian Fredrick Majani before slotting home.
  • Sofapaka shared the spoils with Chemelil Sugar after a 1-1 draw. Hamisi Mwinyi put the sugar millers ahead in the 84th minute but veteran John Baraza cancelled it out in stoppage time.

Local giants Tusker and AFC Leopards picked pivotal wins in their respective mid-week Kenyan Premier League fixtures as the battle for the league title gained momentum on Wednesday.

The second-placed brewers - playing at their Ruaraka backyard - picked a morale boosting 2-0 win over Kenya Commercial Bank to close in on leaders Gor Mahia at the summit of the table. Jesse Were and Ismail Dunga scored the goals to haul their points tally to 34, three shy of K’Ogalo.

At the Nyayo National Stadium, under pressure AFC Leopards gave an appropriate response after a sluggish run in recent matches by beating Nairobi City Stars 2-0.

With the cloudy and conditions chilly in the capital, the 30,000 seater stadium was yawning as only a handful of Ingwe fans turned up to cheer their team but it did not dampen the spirit of the success starved players who scored two quick early goals to settle the contest.

Fit again Noah Wafula - making his first appearance after a long stint on the treatment table - gave the big cats the opener in the sixth minute when he raced forward with the ball firmly on his feet to round the advancing City Stars custodian Fredrick Majani before slotting home.

Leopards never got their feet off the gas pedal and burly striker Austin Ikenna doubled the lead in the 12th minute with a free header from a Martin Imbalambala cross.

Austine Ikenna of AFC Leopards (left) attempts to go past Nairobi City Stars' David Otieno in this file photo. Today, I write with my heart in anguish. I am mourning for our neighbours, otherwise known as AFC Leopards. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Wafula could have claimed his second and Leopards third in the 57th minute when he found himself unmarked in the face of City Stars goal area but the Kenyan international winger blasted awfully over the cross bar.

MUAKA'S MISS

After the interval City Stars put up a strong show and came agonizingly close to pulling one on the hour mark when a team effort that began deep from their own half ended in waste with Levy Muaka firing wide after trading passes with Kevin Opiyo.

A minute later, a glorious chance came for Opiyo after being played in by Kevin ‘Master’ Ochieng but the he watched in agony after putting his shot way above the target.

“It is unfortunate that we lost this match. We gave everything but lapse in concentration in defence early in the game cost us,” City Stars coach Tim Brytte said.

THIKA EDGE STIMA

In an early kick off at the Ruaraka Sports Ground, Thika United held their nerves to overpower a gritty Western Stima 1-0 with on-loan lanky striker Michael Olunga scoring the all important goal.

PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO Western Stima's Fredrick Shimonyo (left) vies for the ball with Thika United defender Vincent Omumbo during their Tusker Premier League match at Ruaraka Sports Ground on July 23, 2014. Thika won 1-0.

At the Machakos’ Kenyatta Stadium, Ulinzi Stars’ resurgence continued after they cruised to a 2-0 victory over a fading Mathare United side. Former Nairobi City Stars midfielder Boniface Onyango and Eric Apul struck a goal apiece to secure the win for Robert Matano's charges.

At the same venue Sofapaka shared the spoils with Chemelil Sugar after a 1-1 draw. Hamisi Mwinyi put the sugar millers ahead in the 84th minute but veteran striker John Baraza cancelled it out in stoppage time.