BY BEN AHENDA AND FRANCIS ONTOMWA

Karuturi Sports defeated Ulinzi Stars 2-0 to register an a fast but entertaining Kenyan Premier League  (KPL) match at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru last evening.

The two teams played purposeful football with Karuturi showing skilful artistry in the second half to outplay the soldiers and return home with maximum points.

Karuturi made some sporadic industrious moves at Ulinzi goal mouth at will with little retaliation forcing custodian Jacktone Odhiambo hard time between the posts.

However, Mohammed Mwachiponi had no mercy for Odhiambo when he unleashed a powerful 18-metre volley, which flowed, into the net in the 58th minute.

The goal increased the match tempo in favour of the winners.

A 75th minute free kick strike by substitute Umar Ahmed hit the crossbar bouncing back into play and found unmarked Hassan Zinde who shook the net with a powerful shot to score the flower men’s second goal.

FOULS UNPUNISHED

A minute later, striker Evans Amuoka was yellow carded by referee James Kagera who allowed too many fouls go unpunished, affecting the flow of the match.

Second half substitute Oliver Ogwanda failed to give Ulinzi their consolation goal in the 82 minute after his shot also hit the cross bar .

A visibly disappointed Ulinzi coach Salim Ali blamed his players for lacking concentration in the second half of the match.

“We played well in the first half, but lack of concentration made us lose the match,” he said in a post match interview.  

Karuturi Sports tactician James Omondi was a happy man, saying, “We had to win this match. The boys played well and the victory has given us great impetus to approach future matches with confidence,” he said.

In Mumias, Gor Mahia FC shared spoils with hosts Kakamega Homeboyz FC in an electric KPL encounter staged under heavy down pour yesterday.

BETTER OPTION

Mumias Complex provided a theatre where talent met experience and the outcome was bitter sweet for either side.

Homeboyz were hoping to escape the dreary dropping zone through a win but the ball rolled the other way and as the match progressed a draw seemed the better option.

For Gor, the gods seemed to be firmly against them and their comeback from continental games did not inspire and just like the hosts, affairs proved hilly and a draw was okay.

Both sides squandered hosts of chances. Kogalo’s twin striking power of Ugandan Dan Serunkuma and Rama Salim was the fireworks and on several times the duo nearly caused havoc.

Homeboyz’s Dennis Mukaisi however sharpened the claws in the 10th minute and his powered rifle outside the box from the right flanksilenced the Green Army’s restless followers.

Gor mounted a wall from behind made of the towering Donald Mosoti, Israel Emuge and Chris Wekesa and their tricks worked well to block Homeboyz’s lethal strikers.

The 29th minute should have been Homeboyz’s moment of glory but left footed Andrew Kulecho failed to beat keeper Jerry Onyango.

Youngster Moses Mudavadi’s entry in second half upped tempo and his combination with winger Daniel Waweru was outstanding for Homeboyz though failed to yield results.