CHAMPS AGAIN: Mathare corner Leopards to bag U-20 KPL trophy

Mathare United FC celebrate after beating AFC in the post penalty matches during KPL U20 Championship finals at Camp Toyoyo on Saturday, Dec 31, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Mathare United won the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) under-20 tournament for the second time in a row at Camp Toyoyo Stadium yesterday.

United needed post-match penalties to edge out AFC Leopards 4-2. The match had ended 1-1 at full time.

United coach Yusuf Chipo was delighted by the results.

“Winning it twice in a row is very special and it shows we are doing the right thing here. We started strongly but then relaxed and allowed Leopards to come back into the match before we eventually won it,” he said.

United won the August edition of the tournament that is played every three months.

United scored their spot kicks through Samuel Semo, Ahmed Abdalla, Alfayo Oyugi and David Owino.

Leopards scored through Eric Kinuthia and Austine Odhiambo with Robert Masai and Haroun Nyaka missing.

Mathare United started strongly with David Owino finding Peter Wanyonyi who however failed to finish off from a header.

Leopard’s forward Mathew Kono was denied by a forest of legs from low shot.

Then United’s pressure finally paid off in the 14th minute. Ahmed Abdalla beat Edwin Mukolwe with a well taken free kick. Overwheomed by the pressure, Leopards made the first substitution in the hope of coming back as Safari Lucky came on for Austine Odhiambo.

The change yielded almost instant result with Leopards finding themselves in their opponent’s half and again.

Mathare United’s Musa Oundo was cautioned just before the break after he pulled down his opponent and it was evidence of the pressure the team found themselves in.

Leopards finished the half on a high. Brian Kipruto picked out Mathew Kono but the latter could not control the ball to score.

Come the second half, it was Leopards who dominated as United appeared content with the single goal.

Mathew Kono put Leopards level with a stunning goal in the 87th minute and sent the match to extra time.
Handed an extra half an hour both teams could not score and the match had to be decided on penalties.