KPL: AFC miss chance to go top as Tusker beat Nzoia

Ulinzi Stars’ Boniface Andai (left) and John Makwata of AFC during KPL Match at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Saturday Oct 2, 2019. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

For the second time, AFC Leopards missed a chance to go top of the Kenyan Premier League table.

The former league champions were frustrated to a barren draw by a tactical Ulinzi Stars yesterday at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos County.

This came barely two hours after Timothy Otieno’s brace against Nzoia Sugar (3-2) helped Tusker (16 points) leapfrog record champions Gor Mahia at the summit.

The draw saw Leopards go level on fifteen points with second-placed K’Ogalo, who have three games in hand.

In the second match at the same venue, Timothy Otieno was the hero bagging a brace as Tusker overcome a resilient Nzoia Sugar 3-2.

Otieno broke the deadlock in the second minute before Hillary Wandera scored into his own net to restore parity for his former club on the quarter hour mark

But the brewers regained the lead when Otieno converted from the spot on the stroke of halftime.

Michael Madoya made it 3-1 six minutes into the second half before substitute Ian Simiyu got his name on the score-sheet late in the game.

In an earlier match at the same venue, Derrick Otanga returned to haunt his former club as Wazito beat ten-man Sony Sugar 4-3 in a seven goal thriller.

Elvis Rupia had grabbed a hat-trick for Wazito after Kevin Omundi’s brace and Johnstone Omurwa’s own goal before Otanga came off the bench to secure a second victory of the season for his new side and a first victory for Medo Melis as Wazito boss.

The troubled Sony had to finish the game with one man less after Bonaventure Aste was sent off for a second bookable offence in the injury time.

Rupia’s hat-trick saw him go level on five goals with leading top scorer John Makwatta, who failed to find the back of the net against Ulinzi Stars.