AFC Leopards hunt down Ulinzi as KCB share spoils with Sofapaka

 

AFC Leopards' Yusuf Mainge (left) and Harun Mwale of Ulinzi Stars during FKF match at Kasarani Stadium on Wednesday, Feb 24, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

AFC Leopards bounced back to winning ways after narrowly beating Ulinzi Stars 1-0 in yesterday’s ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/category/29/football">FKF Premier League Austin Odhiambo set up his fellow second half substitute Peter Thiong’o to score the winner in the 75th minute and consequently inflict the second defeat of the season on the soldiers.

The victory saw Ingwe leapfrog Bandari (22 points) into the third spot courtesy of a better goal difference, while second-placed KCB narrowed the gap on league leaders Tusker to six points after sharing the spoils with Sofapaka in a 2-2 draw in Wundanyi.

Ulinzi remained seventh on the log with 17 points, four behind Wazito, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Mathare United at Kasarani Annex.

It was a good response for Patrick Aussems’ men after losing 2-1 to Bandari last weekend.

“In Mombasa, we played only 45 minutes, but today (yesterday), we played the entire 90 minutes. We had the possession and a lot of opportunities as well as control of the game. Unfortunately, we were not efficient enough in the final third: we are making a lot of mistakes and poor crosses,” said Aussems on his first win as AFC Leopards coach.

“One good thing about this pandemic is that we can make five substitutions. Today’s substitutions won the game for us but maybe it will not be the same case next week.”

But for his Ulinzi Stars counterpart Benjamin Nyangweso, profligacy upfront cost him the match.

“My strikers let me down today. For instance, Wamalwa (Oscar) had a one-on-one chance against AFC Leopards goalkeeper but wasted it. AFC got one opportunity and punished us,” said Nyangweso.

In Kericho, 10-men Kakamega Homeboyz were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Zoo as Nairobi City Stars overcame Western Stima 2-0 at Moi Stadium, Kisumu.