FKF Premier League: Wasteful Stima held by Posta Rangers in Kisumu

Western Stima's Barron Oketch (left) in action against Posta Rangers in Kisumu.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

Relegation threatened Western Stima were on Saturday held to a 1-1 draw by Posta Rangers in an entertaining match played at Moi Stadium in Kisumu.

Stima, looking to turn around their misfortunes, started on the back foot after falling behind in the third minute of the match after Posta Rangers took the lead through Francis Nambute.

The goal woke up a sleeping Stima attack and the hosts should have levelled the scores in the seventh minute when Baron Oketch cross from the left wing found captain Patrick Otieno unmarked in the box but the striker sent his effort over the bar in an open goal.

Three minutes later, Oketch and Otieno combined again but a looping header by Otieno was cleared by Rangers stopper Kevin Opiyo.

However, Stima’s relentless attacks paid off in the 17th minute when Junior Mukisa headed home past a helpless Opiyo from a well-taken free-kick by Juma Yusuf to level the scores at 1-1.

Oketch would then skip past two Rangers defenders in the 26th minute but could only see his right foot shot stroll wide past a surging Opiyo.

Western Stima coach Abdallah Juma reacts after his team wasted a goal-scoring opportunity against Posta Rangers at Moi Stadium in Kisumu.[Washington Onyango,The Standard]

At the half-hour mark, the match was stopped for a water break, a breather that would prove advantageous to the hosts who went on a series of attacks looking for the winning goal.

Mukisa released Oketch with a neat pass but the latter failed to beat Opiyo in a one on one encounter.

Posta stood tall and would hold on to a 1-1 draw at the break.

In the final half, both teams tried to get the winning goal but would fail in numerous accounts as the match would end in a draw.

The draw left Western Stima 16th in the log with 12 points, six points above bottom-placed Mathare United who will be in action tomorrow against Vihiga United.

FKF Premier League results on Saturday. [Photo: Courtesy]