POSTA RANGERS DISPATCH ULINZI: Mail men end KDF's unbeaten streak as Ushuru hold Gor

Posta Rangers' Timothy Otieno, left and Omar Mbongi of Ulinzi FC during their Kenya Premier League at Nyayo National Stadium on sunday, April 9, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD.

Ulinzi Stars’ seven game unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt after losing by a solitary goal to Posta Rangers in yesterday’s Kenyan Premier League match at the Nyayo National Stadium.

The victory saw the mailmen go level on points (13) with fifth placed Ulinzi Stars, but edged them out on goal difference.

Joseph Mbugi scored the lone goal of the game from the spot on the stroke of halftime after Joseph Nyaga was fouled by Brian Birgen in the box.

Rangers coach Zedekiah Otieno was full of praise of his players, but for his Ulinzi Stars counterpart Robert Matano, the penalty demoralised them.

“It is a big and fantastic win. Congratulations to the boys for their hard work. It’s a tough match considering Ulinzi finished second last year and they had not lost since the beginning of the season,” Otieno told Feverpitch.

“Generally, our strategy worked out and this victory will definitely build our confidence as we aim to remain consistent.”

“We started badly, but came out more strongly in the second half. The penalty really demoralised us but there is nothing we could do. That’s the nature of the game. Our main undoing was that we didn’t have cohesion in the final third,” said Matano.

Rangers could have doubled the lead in the 53rd minute, but Victor Ochieng squandered a precious scoring chance from Timothy Otieno’s delivery.

Moments later, the Soldiers raided Rangers’ backline but Jockins Atudo did well to block Kevin Amwayi’s goal bound effort before Joseph Kuria saw his shot easily gathered by goalkeeper Patrick Matasi.

In Awasi, Raymond Omondi’s 75th minute goal is all that Thika United needed to beat hosts Chemelil Sugar 1-0 while Wycliffe Ochomo took his season tally to five goals after inspiring Muhoroni Youth to a 1-0 victory over visiting Bandari.

Jacob Keli missed a penalty as Ushuru held Gor Mahia to a barren draw in yesterday’s Kenyan Premier League match at the Nyayo National Stadium.

The match was characterised by incidents of poor officiating that saw Ushuru’s Nelson Marasowe booked twice in the closing stages, but continued to play only for the referee to red card him later.

“Jacques Tuyisenge is an important player for us, but I also have other players. It is a very disappointing result, our opponents only came to defend,” said a frustrated Gor coach Jose Marcelo.

OWN GOAL

Ushuru keeper Shaban Odhoji pulled off a fine save from Keli’s sixth minute close range header before an opposing defender made an incredible goal line clearance from the resulting rebound.

Ushuru responded immediately by dispossessing Musa Mohammed on the right flank, but the captain recovered quickly to make a goal line clearance.

Keli had another chance to put Gor ahead, but his effort was parried away by Odhoji for a fruitless corner.

Ushuru came close in the 20th minute, but Dennis Wafula’s free header went over the bar before Harun Shakava luckily escaped from scoring an own goal.

Edmond Murai could have broken the deadlock after half hour mark only to be denied by the post before Khalid Aucho was stretchered off with an injury paving the way for Ernest Wendo.

And six minutes after the break, Odhoji brilliantly saved Keli’s spot kick after the former AFC Leopards man was adjudged to have been brought down by Roy Okal. Moments later Okal forced a fine save from Gor goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch as both sides searched for a winning goal in vain.