Last-gasp Kasumba strike sends Sofapaka top

Sofapaka midfielder Kilume Mohamed (left) vies for the ball with Kariobangi Sharks midfielder Duke Abuya during their SportPesa Premier League match at Kenyatta Stadium Machakos on April 4, 2019. PHOTO | SILA KIPLAGAT |

What you need to know:

  • Abege opened the scoring for Sharks with a simple tap-in from close range after Sydney Lokale flicked Duke Abuya's dipping free-kick on 31 minutes.
  • Kasumba headed home Willis Obayi's pin-point cross in injury time with Sharks defenders unable to clear their lines.

Ugandan import Umaru Kasumba cancelled out George Abege's opener at the death as Sofapaka rallied from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Kariobangi Sharks in a SportPesa Premier League match at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Thursday.

Abege opened the scoring for Sharks with a simple tap-in from close range after Sydney Lokale flicked Duke Abuya's dipping free-kick on 31 minutes.

Kasumba headed home Willis Obayi's pin-point cross in injury time with Sharks defenders unable to clear their lines.

John Avirre almost grabbed the winner deep into added time but his rasping shot from a free-kick was tipped over the bar by John Oyemba for a fruitless corner.

The win saw Sofapaka dislodge Bandari from the top but both teams have amassed 45 points. The dockers have an inferior goal difference.

Sharks - who remain on 31 points - contained their opponents from the word go preferring to sit back and threaten on the break. On 18 minutes, Abuya charged down the right flank before he teed up Sydney Lokale whose left foot shot veered off the target.

Sofapaka's Ibrahim Kitawi, playing against his former employers, saw his feeble shot easily gathered by John Oyemba in Sharks post on 38 minutes. Sharks' Sven Yidah - captaining the side on the day - dropped deep to add numbers at the back killing Batoto ba Mungu's central attacking options.

On 48 minutes, Ugandan Julius Masaba thought to have grabbed his maiden goal in the Kenyan top flight when was teed up by Abuya, but his rising shot from the edge box hit the under-post with Sofapaka custodian Justin Ndikumana well beaten.

Kepha Aswani wasted a glorious opportunity to level the scores on 54 minutes when he was played through on goal by Ellie Asieche, who came on for Mohammed Kilume at the restart.

Sharks suffered an injury setback on 67 minutes when defender Geoffrey Shiveka hobbled off the pitch after falling awkwardly following a collision with his goalkeeper Oyemba and Sofapaka striker John Avirre. William Muluya summoned Ian Taifa to replace Shiveka.