KPL: Ulinzi Stars and Sofapaka secure wins, Thika United and Mathare United draw

Ulinzi Stars players Muhammed Hussein and Geoffrey Kokoyo during a past KPL match. [PHOTO: DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

Ulinzi Stars coach Robert Matano had vowed to rally his troops to a top-four finish after they whipped Top Fry Nakuru All Stars 2-0 in a Nakuru derby of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) at Afraha Stadium yesterday.

“We have come from far and are still fighting until we make it to a top-four finish at the conclusion of the league,” Matano told reporters in a post-match interview.

Ulinzi shot to the fifth position in the 16-team table standings with 35 points from 24 matches with seven victories, 14 draws and three losses having scored 24 goals against 18.

Yesterday, striker Evans Amuoka emerged the man of the match after he scored the first goal and assisted in the second in a one-sided match.

Amuoka collected a cross from striker Steve Waruru, who rounded defender Bernard Odhiambo before laying it to Amuoka to beat Top Fry custodian Shaban Odhonji with a tricky shot in the 25th minute. They led 1-0 at the break.

John Nairuka added the second in the 60th minute from the efforts of Amuoka in the 60th minute.

On their part, Top Fry should have pulled one back in the 79th minute but quick reaction by defender Hassan ‘Rio’ Mohammed saved the danger with Harambee Stars’ Simon Ndirangu having beaten James Saruni in Ulinzi goal.

In the other matches, Sofapaka beat Muhoroni Youth 1-0 at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos while Thika United and Mathare United shared the spoils after a 1-1 draw in Thika.

Meanwhile, Shanzu United whitewashed Green Bombers 5-0 in a FKF South Coast provincial league match at Shanzu Teachers Training College.
Ahmed Zuberi opened the flood gates in the 14th minute and Ibrahim Mbarak made it 2-0 at half an hours mark. Samson Oyoo stretched lead one minute to the breather. On resumption of second half Shanzu continued to torment their opponents and Patricia Mumo Shillingi scored the fourth goal in the 63rd minute.

Philip Mwasi sealed the victory in the 74th minute. Bombers should have pulled one back in injury time when they were awarded a penalty following an infringement inside the box but Fredrick Ochieng wasted the spot kick after he shot straight to goalkeeper Godfery Okongo hands.