Miheso strikes to hand Sofapaka GOtv Shield and Africa ticket
Football
By
Ben Ahenda
| Nov 15, 2014
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| Sofapaka FC players celebrate with their coach Sam Timbe (lifted up) after winning the Gotv Shield cup at Afraha stadium Nakuru on November15,2014.Sofapaka beat Posta Rangers 2-1.PHOTO:KIPSANG JOSEPH |
An injury time goal by striker Clifton Miheso was enough to hand Sofapaka a 2-1 victory over Posta Rangers and lift the GOtv Shield at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on Saturday.
The heavy downpour, which started early in the second half, affected the teams' game plansbut it was the cats that sailed through to secure a ticket to CAF Confederations Cup next year.
"The rains slowed the flow of the game resulting in my boys failing to master the pitch. However, I'm happy we have won the match," said Sofapaka coach Sam Timbe.
Miheso rifled a 21-metre powerful drive that beat Posta Rangers custodian Ian Otieno at a time the match was expected to proceed to extra time.
Sofapaka president Elly Kalekwa was elated with the victory after missing the Kenyan Premier League title to Gor Mahia last weekend.
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"We will involve the team in several international matches before we embark on the continental assignments," said Kalekwa.
Sofapaka received a cheque of Sh2 million from GOtv officials while Posta Rangers took home Sh1 million. Third placed West Kenya Sugar got Sh750,000.
After a barren first half, Sofapaka took the lead in the 51st minute through Enock Agwanda, who connected a long cross from one of his defenders.
Two minutes later, Hashim Mukwana should have added the second goal for the winners after Eugene Asike put him through but he failed to beat defender Pascal Ochieng.
The pressure on Sofapaka increased after Peter Mwachi replaced Christopher Nyamao and it did not come as a surprise when Ochieng headed home the equaliser after rising to meet a cross from Edwin Mwaura in the 67th minute.
From then on, both teams held on and expected the match to go to extra time. But Miheso stole the show deep in injury time to seal the win.
Posta Rangers coach George Maina said his game plan was affected by the rains but was happy with the performance of the team.
"Although we lost, my boys played very good football," he said. The team is now focused for the Kenyan Premier League in the coming season after they gained promotion from the National Super League.