Three red cards fly as Ulinzi Stars hold Posta Rangers in chaotic match

Posta Rangers FC players confront centre referee Lucas Odhiambo during their FKF Premier League match against Ulinzi Stars FC at Utalii Grounds in Nairobi on January 14, 2022. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Ulinzi Stars rallied late to force a 1-1 draw with Posta Rangers in a chaotic Football Kenya Federation Premier League match played on Friday afternoon at Utalii Grounds.

Center referee Lucas Odhiambo dished out three red cards while the soldiers missed a penalty as heated moments marred the lunchtime kickoff match.

Brian Marita scored in the 55th minute to put the mailmen ahead before Oscar Wamalwa scored for Ulinzi Stars deep into injury time to claim a hard-fought 1-1 draw.

However, Ulinzi Stars Kevin Ouma missed a penalty in the 79th minute after David 'Cheche' Ochieng' was culpable for handling the ball inside the box.

Posta Rangers FC players captain David Ochieng (Right) and Caleb Olilo confront centre referee Lucas Odhiambo during their FKF Premier League match against Ulinzi Stars FC at Utalii Grounds in Nairobi on January 14, 2022. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

It was the decision of center referee Odhiambo to award Ulinzi the penalty that threw the game into chaotic scenes as the Posta technical bench led by head coach Stanley Okumu vehemently protested the decision.

The chaotic protests saw the game stopped for five minutes as both sides tussled over the penalty leading.

Referee Odhiambo proceeded to show Rangers coach Okumbi, his assistant Collins Omondi and goalkeeper trainer Victor Omondi red cards and forcing them to leave the pitch.

After all the drama, Ouma stepped up to take the penalty against but he ended up missing the target after pushing his effort wide hitting the post.

The draw saw Ulinzi winless run stretched to three matches with their last victory coming last year in December over bottom-placed Vihiga Bullets.

Posta Rangers on the other hand extended their unbeaten run to six matches after the stalemate.

Ulinzi Stars are 12th on 16 points from 12 matches as Rangers remain fifth on the log on 22 points from 13 matches.