Kimani, Kasumba strike to ease pressure on Ssimbwa
Sofapaka midfielder Elli Asieche is tackled by Mathare United's Francis Omondi (left) during their Kenya Premier League match on February 25, 2018 at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
What you need to know:
- The win lifted the pressure, albeit temporary, on under-fire Sofapaka coach Sam Ssimbwa who had seen his charges lose twice in their opening three matches of the season before the encounter.
- Kimani, on for the injured Kasumba at the start of the second half, did find the net but was flagged offside before he tapped home Kepha Aswani's cross on 66 minutes.
- Former Leopards man Aswani came close to adding a third but was denied by Duncan Oieno's block before Waruru missed another opportunity for Batoto ba Mungu.
Goals from Umaru Kasumba and second half substitute Kevin Kimani gave Sofapaka a hard-fought 2-1 win over AFC Leopards in a Kenyan Premier League match at the Narok County Stadium on Wednesday.
The win lifted the pressure, albeit temporary, on under-fire Sofapaka coach Sam Ssimbwa who had seen his charges lose twice in their opening three matches of the season before the encounter.
This was also Leopards' first loss of the season in the league, after drawing 1-1 with Posta Rangers in their opening match before beating Ulinzi Stars 2-1 last weekend in Thika.
Sofapaka came off all-guns blazing after the first whistle and were 1-0 up inside two minutes after Kasumba slotted home from Stephen Waruru's cross.
Veteran striker Ezekiel Odera restored parity for Leopards on 26 minutes, after he was teed up by Moses Mburu from midfield.
Sofapaka custodian Mathias Kigonya did well to save from Brian Marita twice in the first half, before denying Odera and Lukooya to keep the scores level.
Former Ulinzi Stars striker Waruru could have restored Sofapaka's lead late on in the opening period but was denied by Jairus Adira from point blank, moments after the former Chemelil Sugar custodian had denied Michael Oduor.
Kimani, on for the injured Kasumba at the start of the second half, did find the net but was flagged offside before he tapped home Kepha Aswani's cross on 66 minutes.
Former Leopards man Aswani came close to adding a third but was denied by Duncan Oieno's block before Waruru missed another opportunity for Batoto ba Mungu.
