Adwar hands Nakumatt advantage in playoff

Nakumatt forward Cornelius Juma shields the ball from Ushuru defender David Otieno during their promotion playoff first leg match at the Camp Toyoyo Ground on October 19, 2018. PHOTO | VINCEN OPIYO |

What you need to know:

  • Ushuru, who qualified for the playoff by finishing third in the National Super League (NSL), had a poor start and could have fallen behind inside the opening 10 minutes

  • Oporia was denied by the cross bar five minutes to the break before youthful Alex Sunga hit the side net after weaving into the box from the right flank

  • Anthony Ndolo summed up their bad day in office with another miss from close range deep into stoppage time

Tom Adwar’s 25-yard freekick is all Nakumatt needed to see off Ushuru 1-0 in the first leg of the SportPesa Premier League (SPL) promotion/relegation playoff at Camp Toyoyo grounds on Friday.

Adwar powered a venomous drive past Ushuru goalkeeper Kevin Obwanda to hand his side an early lead in the 21st minute. Joe Waithira had been fouled by David Otieno from 25 yards out to win the freekick.

Nakumatt will head into the return leg next Sunday needing a draw of any kind to retain their topflight status after finishing 16th during the regular season.

“I am happy but it’s not yet over, we must rectify few mistakes noticed today and head into the return leg aiming to score more, such a margin is nothing in the world of football,” Nakumatt coach Medo Melis said after the game.

His opposite number Ken Kenyatta rued missed chances that ultimately proved costly.

“This is the nature of a football game, you get positive results if you convert your chances,” said a furious Kenyatta.

“It could’ve been a different score line had we converted all our chances but it’s not over until it’s over I think I have another chance for home match, I got to pull up my socks so that I get two goals,” he added.

Ushuru, who qualified for the playoff by finishing third in the National Super League (NSL), had a poor start and could have fallen behind inside the opening 10 minutes.

The hosts almost took the lead after six minutes but Timonah Wanyonyi’s teasing shot was parried by Ushuru goalkeeper Kennedy Obwanda.

The taxmen, who had Bill Oporia and club top scorer Benson Amianda leading their attack, were thwarted by Nakumatt custodian Philip Odhiambo who was coming up against his former employers.

Oporia was denied by the cross bar five minutes to the break before youthful Alex Sunga hit the side net after weaving into the box from the right flank.

Ushuru coach Ken Kenyatta pulled out the jaded Fredrick Kentile for Nigerian import Nelson Marasowe shortly after the restart to tighten his defence that looked porous in the opening stanza.

Ushuru defender Fan Ngaira (left) vies for the ball with Nakumatt forward Timonah Wanyonyi during their promotion playoff first leg match at the Camp Toyoyo Ground on October 19, 2018. PHOTO | VINCEN OPIYO |

Marasowe's inclusion proved crucial as he cleared a goal-bound cross with Cornelius Juma lurking after Obwanda had been beaten to it.

In the 66th minute, Oscar Mbugua missed a sitter from six yards with a lobbed effort that sailed over the bar after being fed by Amianda.

Ushuru staged a late surge in the final 10 minutes of the game camping in the hosts' half but were unlucky.

Evans Maliachi latched onto a pass from Oporia on the left flank before unleashing a left footed shot that ricocheted off the crossbar. Anthony Ndolo summed up their bad day in office with another miss from close range deep into stoppage time.