Gor Mahia register first win: Sofapaka lose again as Tusker and Bandari draw, Rangers hold Thika

KENYA PREMIER LEAGUE Tusker FC's Noah Wafulaa, left tussle ball control with Bandari's Musa Budde during their KPL match at Kenyatta Stadium Machakos on Saturday, April 2, 2016. PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD.

Gor Mahia picked their first win of the season as Sofapaka continued with a bad run of results in yesterday’s Kenyan Premier League matches.

The 2015 KPL champions ended their bad run of results after thrashing Kakamega Homeboyz 3-0 at Mumias Sports Complex while Sofapaka went down 2-1 to Chemelil Sugar at Machakos Stadium.

In another match played at Machakos Stadium, Tusker and Sofapaka played out to a 1-1 draw with goals from David Kingatua for the dockers and Stephen Owusu for the brewers.

Gor were ruthless and went ahead in the first minute of the match when Enock Agwanda completed a Jacques Tuyisenge effort.

The Rwandan, a record signing for Gor Mahia, was playing his first match and he proved why the Kenyan champions were willing to break the bank for his signature.

Apart from setting up the first goal, Tuyisenge was on the mark in the 47th minute, but had to be replaced in the 74th minute by Jacob Keli due to an injury.

Keli scored the third goal just one minute after coming on to hand Gor Mahia their first victory this season.

In Thika, James Nandwa failed to inspire Thika United to their first win of the season after being held to a barren draw by Rangers.

Nandwa who has just been appointed as Thika coach had a bad day in office as his side was reduced to ten men when captain Dennis Odhiambo was sent off in the second half.

Earlier, Brian Toaraach had been carried off the pitch in the fourth minute following an injury forcing Nandwa to make an early substitution.

With the draw, Posta Rangers remain sixth on the log with Thika United moving to 14th spot.

Despite losing again, Sofapaka showed early intentions to go ahead in their match against Chemelil.

They started strongly with some good play at the back. In the 12th minute John Wabuluka was unable to get at the end of a through ball.

Chemelil slowly felt their way into the match and in the 17th minute won a corner which Hillary Echesa did not capitalise.

A few seconds later, Echesa failed to put the sugar millers ahead with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Chemelil found themselves on the receiving end as their opponents kept up the pressure and Wabuluka failed to score in the 22nd minute after being blocked by Victor Majid.

Five minutes later veteran Echesa, who was having a great game, should have netted but his long shot went just wide.

In the 33rd minute however, Jared Obwoge made no mistake and scored the first goal for Chemelil Sugar as their pressure finally paid off.

Erastus Mwaniki broke the hearts of Sofapaka players by adding a second goal in the 40th minute and the sugar millers went to the break with a two-goal advantage.

Sofapaka had to end the match with ten men after Dennis Monda was sent off for a second bookable offence.