Obwanda’s howler gifts Nakumatt win to take advantage in SPL promotion play offs.

Ushuru FC's Bill Oporia (left) and Amani Kyata of Nakumatta FC during playoff match at Camp Toyoyo on Friday Oct 19, 2018. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Tom Odwar capitalised on Ushuru goalkeeper Kennedy Obwanda’s error to give Nakumatt a slender SportPesa Premier League promotion play-offs advantage as they beat the taxmen 1-0 at Camp Toyoyo Grounds, yesterday.

The victory kept Melis Medo men’s survival hopes in the topflight football alive ahead of next Sunday’s reverse fixture at Kasarani Stadium.

“A win is a win, at least we are one step away. We need to fight hard because we know it will be tough in the second leg,” said Nakumattassistant coach Benjamin Omukuba.

Ushuru coach Ken Kenyatta said: “It is not yet over until it’s over. We still have a chance but I think we could have gotten a positive result today.”

Nakumatt threatened first in the fifth minute when Timothy Wanyonyi beat his marker in the box, but the former Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards man’s shot was stopped by goalkeeper Kennedy Obwanda before Cornelius Lusaka’s header from Harun Nyakha’s free-kick went wide.

The hosts continued piling pressure and their efforts could have been rewarded in the 11th minute when Louis Masika nearly scored into his own net while clearing Boniface Mukhekhe’s cut back.

Moments later, Joseph Waithira pounced on Wanyonyi’s delivery to force a fine save from Ushuru custodian.

But after a series of raids, Nakumatt broke the deadlock in the 19th minute, when Obwanda failed to deal with Tom Odwar’s 25-yard feeble free kick.

A few minutes later, Ushuru came close to drawing level but Alex Sunga’s shot hit the side-netting. The taxmen then earned a free kick in a promising position, but Oscar Mbugua’s attempt was well blocked by the Nakumatt wall before Sunga’s header went over the bar.

Mukhekhe had a chance to double the lead when he ran down the right flank on the half-hour mark, but his effort painfully missed the target by inches.

Bill Oporia thought he had equalised for Ushuru on the stroke of halftime, only for him to by denied by the left post.

Mbugua wasted a glorious chance to level the score in the 66th minute, but the former Gor Mahia and Nairobi City Stars midfielder loop went slightly over the bar with the keeper already beaten before Anthony Ndolo’s header hit the side netting.