AFC leopards hit stubborn City Stars: Mathare United beat Thika Utd as KCB see off All Stars

AFC Leopards Abdalla Juma(L) and Joseph Sakwa of City Stars battle for ball possession during their KPL match at City Stadium, Nairobi on Saturday 21/03/15.PHOTO:BONIFACE OKENDO

Jacob Kelli came off the bench to score the match winner and inspire AFC Leopards to a 1-0 victory over bogey team Nairobi City Stars in a Kenyan Premier League match played yesterday at the City Stadium.

After a disjointed first half display, Ingwe coach Zdravko Logarusic made a double substitution bringing on Jacob Kelli and Edward Seda for Duncan Otieno and the off coloured Ndungwa Karim.

“It’s like a pre-season match to me. The level of fitness of my players is low, but we are going to work on that. All the same, it’s a warm welcome for me,” said Logarusic.

In an earlier match played at the same venue, Raymond Murugi struck a brace as KCB gave Nakuru All Stars a reality check by hammering them 6-2.

In Awendo, hosts Sony Sugar was held to a barren draw by visiting Muhorini Youth in a sugar derby.

At the Thika Municipal Stadium, Mathare United bounced back from the disappointing 4-2 loss to Gor Mahia mid-week by beating Thika United 3-1.

Youngster Eric Mata scored a double for the Slum Boys with Daniel Mwaura adding the third goal.

Mata opened the scoring for Mathare in the 15th minute before adding his second in the 43rd minute after Kennedy Otieno had pulled the hosts level in the 39th minute. Mwaura ensured the three points for Mathare with a strike in the 76th minute.

At the City Stadium, Murugi dedicated the victory to coach Rishadi Shedu who has been forced to take a break for medical reasons.

“We played very well and we dedicate this victory to our ailing coach,” said Murugi.

This was the first match of the season for Peter Okidi’s men since their reinstatement after being relegated last year. All Stars started the stronger side and could have led within the first five minutes but their strikers displayed profligacy in front of goal.

And in the 11th minute, the bankers’ broke the deadlock when overlapping defender Yusuf Juma smashed in the ball from close range after All Stars defence failed to clear Benjamin Chaka’s corner-kick.

Moments later, Ronald Musana pulled off a fine save from the visitors’ goalkeeper Martin Lule before his KCB counterpart Zachary Omondi came off his line to deny Wilson Andati an equaliser in the 21st minute. With speedy Juma and Musana on the flanks, the hosts continued terrorising All Stars’ backline and in the 26th minute Murugi capitalised on Lule’s goalkeeping error to double the lead.

On the half hour mark, All Stars had a had chance to pull a goal back but Kennedy Owino squandered a precious scoring opportunity with only the goalkeeper to beat.

With less than six minutes to the break, Musana added his name on the score-sheet with a brilliant strike.

Murugi scored his second goal of the day on restart after a defensive mix-up by All Stars players before Musana was denied by the post on the hour mark.

Nine minutes later, David Seda headed into his own net before Teddy Siwa scored a first goal for All Stars in the 88th minute.

Former Kenyan international Hillary Echesa beat KCB keeper with a perfect injury time free-kick, but Kevin Omondi scored on restart to hand the bankers an emphatic victory.