NSL: Talanta, Stima and Fortune Sacco maintain top spot as super league gears speed

Talanta FC before beating Wazito FC 3-1 during Round Eighteen of The National Super League match against Wazito FC at Camp Toyoyo on Monday Feb 4, 2019. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

FC Talanta has maintained their place at the top of the National Super League standings after returning to winning ways following a 2-0 win over Silibwet on Wednesday at the Ruaraka Grounds during the midweek matches.

Former Harambee Stars striker Andrew Murunga came off the bench to net the decisive goals to inspire the club back to their winning ways after dropping points in their previous two matches.

The former Tusker, KCB and Kakamega Homeboyz striker found the back of the net in the 84th and 89th minutes of the match to seal Talanta’s fourth win of the season, which saw them consolidate their stay at the top of the log with 13 points with nine goals.

In Mombasa, second-placed Coast Stima kept close tabs with Talanta after emerging 3-1 winners over Nairobi Stima in the ‘Stima derby’ at the Mbaraki Stadium.

The win saw Stima tie with Talanta on 13 points but second on goal difference, trailing the Ken Kenyatta coached side with three goals.

Fortune Sacco also joined Talanta and Stima on 13points after narrowly edging out Muranga Seals 1-0 but remain third in the log with an inferior goal difference of three goals.

In Kisumu, former premier league side Kisumu All Stars leapfrogged Kibera Black Stars into fourth place with 12 points after edging out rivals Chemelil Sugar (Kisumu Hot Stars) 1-0 in a tight match played at Moi Stadium.

Seth Oyugi’s goal in the second half was enough to hand the Salim Babu coached side their third win of the season which took them to fourth in log and within a point off joint leaders Talanta, Stima and Fortune Sacco.

Kibera Black Stars dropped to sixth after losing to Migori Youth 2-1, with the Awendo based outfit jumping seven places up from 14 to seventh in the table.

Former Kenyan Premier League side Mt. Kenya United who are yet to taste victory, drew 1-1 at Camp Toyoyo against league debutants Soy United in an epic clash.

Kisumu All Stars players celebrate after scoring against Kisumu Hot Stars in the National Super League match played at Moi Stadium in Kisumu. [Washington Onayngo,Standard]

The same result was registered in a match pitting Vihiga Bullets and MCF in Mumias .

Another stalemate befell Modern Coast Rangers who were held to a 2-2 draw by Shabana at Serani Grounds.

Other results saw Kenya Police defeat hosts Mwatate United 2-1 as Sony Sugar (Gusii FC) thrashed APS Bomet 5-4 in a nine-goal thriller in Bomet.

After round six of the super league matches, Talanta, Coast Stima and Fortune Sacco lead the way followed by Kisumu All Stars in what is expected to be a grueling race to earning the three Premier League promotion slots.

NSL Midweek Results

FC Talanta 2-0 Silibwet (Ruaraka Grounds)

Mt Kenya United  1-1 Soy United (Camp Toyoyo)

Fortune Sacco 1-0 Muranga Seal (Kianyaga Grounds)

Vihiga Bullets 1-1  MCF  (Bukhungu Stadium)

Migori Youth 2-1 Kibera Black Stars (Migori Stadium)

Modern Coast Rangers 2-2 Shabana (Serani Gronds))

APS Bomet 4-5 Sony Sugar (Bomet Stadium)

Mwatate United 1-2 Kenya Police (Wundanyi Stadium)

Kisumu AllStars 1-0 Chemelil Sugar (Moi Stadium, Kisumu)

Coast Stima 3-1 Nairobi Stima (Mbaraki Grounds)

Athletics
Kenya hoping to defend World Cross Country title in Belgrade
Football
Fifa threatens Kenya with ban again
Unique Sports
SCHOOLS: Lenana School, Kisumu Girls and Agoro Sare turn focus on national games finals
Motorsport
Safari Rally: 29 drivers set for epic showdown as Safari Rally zooms off