AFC Leopards claw ‘KK’ Homeboyz as Bidco beat Wazito to advance and Thika brush off Mosca

Thika United's Sammy Meja, left, and Vincent Odongo of MOSCA FC during GOTV Shield Cup match at Ruaraka Grounds on Sunday, July 31, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

New signings Yusuf Suf and John Ndirangu opened their goals account in the den as 2013 GOtv Shield champions AFC Leopards clawed Kakamega Homeboyz 2-0 to qualify for the round of 16 of this year’s tournament at Mumias Sports Complex yesterday.

However, it was youngster Jack Bruno who stole the show, producing a man of the match performance capped by two assists and gave the blue army followers a glimpse of what he is capable of.

Bruno perfectly executed two identical first-half crosses that were well connected by Suf and Ndirangu for Leopards to take a 2-0 half-time lead.

“I am pleased with the performance and we are looking forward to more good results,” said Bruno, who scored on his debut against Sony Sugar in the Kenyan Premier League.

With their great display, AFC coach Ivan Minnaert said GOtv is their only realistic chance of bagging silverware this term.

“We were confident on the ball. This is exactly the football I want us to play,” said Minnaert.

His Homeboyz counterpart Mike Mururi conceded defeat, but blamed his side’s sloppy defending for the outcome.

“There is no complaint about officiating and I am satisfied with the result. We started slowly and allowed crosses in the area that yielded the two goals. We also had a loss of concentration at the back,” said Mururi.

It only took AFC six minutes to break the deadlock when Suf headed home Bruno’s brilliantly delivered cross from the right.

Three minutes later, Suf could have doubled the lead but the former City Stars man’s shot in the area was deflected for a fruitless corner.

Homeboyz came close in the 17th minute, but Stephen Wakanya’s attempt at the edge of the box went wide.

AFC had another opportunity on the half-hour mark but there was no blue shirt in the box to connect Allan Kateregga’s cross.

Homeboyz then earned a corner kick, but Charles Momanyi’s header couldn’t hit the target.

Ndirangu then found himself space in the box on the stroke of half-time to double the lead from a superb Bruno’s cross.

After the break, both sides made changes, with Andrew Murunga replacing Wakanya on Homeboyz side as Ndirangu paved way for Bernard Ongoma.

Bruno could have got his name on the scoresheet in the 58th minute but his shot missed target by inches before goalkeeper Ian Otieno’s quick reflex action denied Homeboyz a goal.

Substitute Ali Bhai had a chance to score the first goal for Homeboyz in the 82nd minute, pouncing on a loose ball in the area but his shot just flashed across the face of goal.

In an earlier match at the same venue, Bidco United progressed to the round of 16 of the competition after beating Wazito FC 4-3 on post penalties. The match had ended in a barren draw in the regular time.

Bidco scored four of their five spot kicks through John Kangethe, Hussein Puzzo, Anthony Gicho and George Amayo, with only Joseph Kariuki missing his penalty as Reuben Owando, Stanley Ndungu and Kennedy Ayako scored for Wazito.

At Ruaraka Grounds, Dennis Odhiambo and Onwudi Chibueze scored a goal apiece to propel Thika United to a 2-0 victory over MOSCA 2-0 as Western Stima trounced National Super League side Fresha FC 4-0 in Kisumu.

Kennedy Agogo Otieno struck a hat-trick half with Kenneth Mugambi scoring the fourth goal to seal Stima’s emphatic victory.

In Bungoma, Nzoia United beat visiting Kiambu AllStars 2-0 to progress to the next round.