Stima, Mathare win to take relegation battle to the wire

The relegation battle in the SportPesa Premier League will go to the wire and the team that will join Muhoroni Youth in the National super League next season will not be known until the last day of the season.

Mathare United and Western Stima won their respective matches on Saturday to take the fight for survival to the last day of the season next Saturday.

Former champions Mathare braved the muddy conditions at the Ruaraka grounds to beat Muhoroni 2-1, meaning that they require just one point from their final match next weekend to duck relegation.

Cliff Nyakeya and Edward Seda scored one each to ensure that Francis Kimanzi's boys collected the crucial points, although Muhoroni's Maxwell Onyango caused the slum boys a few nervy moments by scoring a goal in between seven minutes after the break.

OTUOMA TO THE RESCUE

Stima, who are facing the greatest danger of dropping to the NSL, collected a crucial 1-0 win over Posta Rangers in Kisumu courtesy of Ezekiel Otuoma’s close range shot in the 64th minute.

“It is the best result of the season since it gives the team a slim chance of surviving. We are determined to win our last match to boost our hopes of remaining in the league,” Western Stima coach Richard Makumi said after the match.

And at the Awendo Green Stadium, Nakumatt shielded themselves from the relegation dogfight by edging out hosts Sony Sugar via a 1-0 win that was powered by a first half goal from Kepha Aswani.

The goal helped Aswani retain second position on the scorers’ charts, same as Gor Mahia’s Jacques Tuyisenge, but their prospects of winning the Golden Boot were dimmed as Masoud Juma scored two goals in his team’s 4-1 win over Nzoia Sugar to move to 17 goals at the top of the list.

Juma broke the deadlock four minutes into the match with a nice half volley off an Ibrahim Kitawi pass. Patrick Kwitonda levelled for Nzoia three minutes later for a 1-1 draw at the break.

Duke Abuya restored Sharks’ lead in the 68th minute with a well taken shot from inside the area before Juma completed his brace in the 89th minute when he picked the ball from the midfield, raced down the left flank before beating Nzoia custodian Benson Mangala for his second of the afternoon. Abuya completed the rout at the death.

Other SPL games saw Darius Msagha lift Bandari to a 1-0 over Ulinzi Stars in Mombasa, as former champions Sofapaka rose to second on the table after beating deposed champions Tusker 1-0 in Ruaraka.

Champions elect Gor Mahia beat Kakamga Homeboyz 1-0 in Mumias.

Results:

Mathare United 2-1 Muhoroni Youth (Ruaraka Grounds, 2pm)

Bandari 1-0 Ulinzi Stars (Mbaraki Grounds, Mombasa, 3pm)

Kakamega Homeboyz 0-1 Gor Mahia (Mumias Sports Complex, 3pm)

Kariobangi Sharks 4-1 Nzoia Sugar (Camp Toyoyo, Jericho, 3pm)

Sony Sugar 0-1 Nakumatt (Awendo Green Stadium, Migori, 3pm)

Tusker 0-1 Sofapaka (Ruaraka Grounds, 4.15pm)

Western Stima 1-0 Posta Rangers (Moi Stadium)

Reports by Cellestine Olilo, Abdulrahman Sheriff, Vincent Opiyo and Gaitano Pessa