AFC Leopards return to winning ways as Tusker fightback to hold Ulinzi Stars

©Ulinzi Stars

FOOTBALL AFC Leopards return to winning ways as Tusker fightback to hold Ulinzi Stars

Kiplagat Sang • 17:42 - 16.03.2023

Ingwe were reduced to ten men but held tight to collect three points.

AFC Leopards outwitted Posta Rangers and registered a 1-0 win in a Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) match on Thursday at the Nyayo Stadium.

The win for Ingwe is a vital outcome and is expected to boost their morale after they lost 1-0 to Mathare United in their last game, in a day that also marked their 59th birthday. 

Victor Omune – who received his maiden Harambee Stars call-up on Wednesday – created the chance for Cliff Nyakeya to score for Ingwe in the third minute.

A chance for Leopards to score again presented itself in the 24th minute, but Ojo Olaniyi’s close-range header could not beat Posta Rangers’ goalkeeper Kevin Opiyo.

In the 40th minute, the Nigerian failed to score once again as his header was stopped by Opiyo. The Rangers goalkeeper also denied Jaffery Owiti a chance to score four minutes after the hour mark.

Ingwe were reduced to 10 men in the 66th minute after Musa Oudo was red-carded for a dangerous play.

The Mailmen had two good goalscoring chances, but Kennedy Odhiambo’s 42nd-minute header hit the post, while Vincent Wasambo’s close-range shot flew inches wide in the 89th minute.

At the Ulinzi Complex, Ulinzi Stars and Tusker shared the points from a 2-2 draw.

Deogratius Ojok had two open chances in the eighth minute to put Tusker ahead, but he failed to do so.

In the first instance, he failed to find the back of the net after John Njuguna’s corner found him at the back post only for him to head wide. In the second instance, he failed to beat his marker at close range as the opponent made a vital block.

Ulinzi grabbed the lead in the 14th minute – from the penalty spot following Hillary Simiyu’s conversion - after Michael Kibwage brought down Boniface Muchiri, a former Tusker forward.

The Brewers grabbed their second in the 16th minute when Masita Masuta – after a brilliant run into the box – scored. At this point, the visitors looked disjointed and were unable to handle the pressure exerted on them by the 2010 Premier League champions.

Muchiri – after being nicely set through on goal - could have made it 3-0 in the 28th minute, but Brian Bwire was equal to the challenge as he made a rather comfortable save.

Tusker pulled one back in the 51st minute after Humphrey Mieno’s fierce shot landed in the back of the net. Mieno rose high to connect to Njuguna’s corner and headed past Sylvaine Ricks in Ulinzi’s goal.

Robert Matano’s side was unlucky in the 53rd minute when Njuguna tried to find the top corner with a long-range strike only for him to hit the post.

Ten minutes later, they failed to restore parity again when Shaphan Oyugi’s shot hit the crossbar.

The Brewers were unable to score yet again in the 74th minute when Charles Momanyi – after he collected Njuguna’s corner – sent a powerful shot only to hit the crossbar.

Momanyi, who scored a vital equalizer against Talanta in a previous game, rescued Tusker with another late goal. Daniel Sakari’s long throw-in landed into the box and Momanyi’s initial header was blocked, but he managed to score on the second attempt.

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