Giant slaying Mathare United claim AFC Leopards' scalp

Mathare United

FKFPL Giant slaying Mathare United claim AFC Leopards' scalp

Festus Chuma 18:45 - 12.03.2023

Slum Boys forced a submission out of Gor Mahia in their previous league fixture.

One time Kenyan champions Mathare United defied more odds to record a 1-0 victory over AFC Leopards in a Football Kenya Federation Premier League match played at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani on Sunday afternoon.

AFC Leopards were the better side in the opening stages of the game with Victor Omune,Jafary Owiti and Maxwell Otieno all looking lively for the hosts.

Omune saw his curling long-range shot narrowly miss the target, before Brian Olang’o produced two great saves to deny Owiti and Otieno respectively.

However, Mathare  grew into the game as it continued, and Daniel Otieno managed to force AFC Leopards shot-stopper Levis Opiyo  into a good low save.

Eugine Mukangula, who has been criticized for poor show in the previous match, saw his header narrowly miss the target as Leopards looked to break the deadlock.

Mathare United were able to contain Leopards  in the closing stages of the game, and the score was 0-0 at the interval.

https://twitter.com/AFCLeopards/status/1634917933221826564?s=20

Leopards did most of the attacking at the start of the second half with Maxwell Otieno  keen to make an impact having had a quiet first half.

Brian Wanyama played a good cross for the youthful forward , who headed over the crossbar from close range as  Patrick Aussem’s men pushed for the opening goal.

Mathare  United then made a double substitution, introducing the attacking duo of Godfrey Ochieng  andLennox Kimani.

Ochieng’s  arrival helped increase Mathare's tempo and the Slum Boys  deservingly broke the deadlock when Curtis Wekesa sent a powerful shot inside the area which Leopards goalkeeper Levis Opiyo failed to deal with before Chris Owino drove home a rebound to make it 1-0.

Washington Munene missed the target from a one-on-one situation with the Mathare United defence badly exposed.

Mathare goalkeeper Brian Olango’ made routine saves from the visitors, who were playing long balls into the hosts box, in the closing stages of the encounter.

Ultimately, Mathare emerged 1-0 winners over AFC Leopards, who had struggled to convert the few chances that they created in the afternoon.

How they lined up:

AFC Leopards: Levis Opiyo, Bonface Mukhekehe, Wahington Munenne, Tedian Esilaba, Kayci Odhiambo, Eugene Mukhangula, Cliff Nyakeya, Brian Wanyama, Maxwell Otieno, Jfary Owiti

Mathare United: Brian Olang’o, Fidel Otieno, Derrick Ikholi, Josepjh Odhiambo, David Ocheing Gideon Were, Khalid Jumaan, Curtis Wekesa, Douglas Koech, Steve Kimani, Daniel Otieno