KPL: Poor form continues in Leopards and Ulinzi Stars while Nzoia Sugar stop Posta Rangers

Ulinzi vs Nakumatt Disappointed Ulinzi stars players after they were beaten by Nakumatt FC during the Sportpesa premier league match at Afraha stadium in Nakuru on August 6,2017. Nakumatt won 1-0.Photo:Kipsang Joseph /Standard

Ulinzi Stars woes continue in defeat

Nakumatt rebound against KDF as Sofapaka crush Thika and Leopards lose to Bandari.

Nakumatt, Sofapaka and Bandari collected maximum points in the Sportpesa Premier League matches at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru yesterday.

Nakumatt had a slim 1-0 win over hosts Ulinzi Stars, with Bandari also silencing AFC Leopards by the same margin as Sofapaka went on the rampage to hammer Thika United 3-0.

After losing two consecutive matches to leaders Gor Mahia in less than 10 days, an 86th minute goal by Kelvin Thairu was all Nakumatt required to dismiss Ulinzi Stars.

Thairu, in as a second half replacement for Victor Okullu, shook the net from a rebound after goalkeeper Jacktone Odhiambo dropped the ball.

Ulinzi will blame themselves for squandering three golden opportunities that could have made the difference.

In the second match played at the same venue, Sofapaka hammered Thika United 3-0 in a one-sided affair, thanks to the three goals by Umar Kasumba, Hillary Echesa and Rodgers Akoro.

After a barren first half, Kasumba tapped home the first goal in the 54th minute before Echesa made it 2-0 three minutes later. Akoro silenced their opponents with the third goal in the 76th minute.

In the third match, Bandari increased the miseries in the AFC Leopards den with 1-0 slim win.

Striker Hassan Abdalla scored the all-important goal in the 43rd minute.

In Chemelil, Zoo Kericho FC came from a goal down to force a 1-1 draw with hosts Chemelil in a match played early to avoid the rain now pounding the region.

Mike Madoya tied the scores in the 76th minute, cancelling out John Mwita’s 41st minute goal.

At Awendo Green Stadium, Mathare United failed to hold on to their early lead, allowing hosts Sony Sugar to stage a comeback and force a one-all draw. The visitors were first to score through Ronald Reagan in the 15th minute, but Sony’s Amos Asembeka equalised in the 61st to deny the visitors three crucial points.