Sofapaka bounce back with win over Stima

Sopafaka Verses Western Stima Kennedy Otieno of Western Stima (in yellow) vies for the ball with Sopafaka's Paul Odhiambo during their KPL match staged on 27-3-2017 [PHOTO BY PHILLIP ORWA/STANDARD]

Sofapaka bounced back from their season opening defeat to beat ten-man hosts Western Stima 3-1 in an entertaining Kenyan Premier League match at Moi Stadium, Kisumu.

Veteran Charles Okwemba gave the visitors the lead in the 22nd minute before centre back Humphrey Okoti stabbed a second one in the 40th minute.

Fredrick Nyarombo pulled a goal back for Western Stima three minutes from the break, but Ezekiel Okare’s 70th minute-low shot won Sofapaka all the three points.

The win is a reprieve for coach Sam Ssimbwa whose side lost 1-0 to Sony Sugar a week ago. For Western Stima, they will have to go back to the drawing board ahead of their second match against Gor Mahia at the same venue on April 2.

Stima were reduced to 10-men with a minute to go, after Samuel Odhiambo blocked goal-bound Okwemba shot outside his 18-yard area.

Sopafaka were the better side as they kicked off the match on a high testing Western Stima keeper Odhiambo twice through James Kasibante and Michael Lumumba.

The hosts then slowly came back into the match with Fredrick Nyarombo knocking on Sofapaka’s door.

With 22 minutes gone Okwemba nodded in Kasibante’s free kick. Centre-back Okoti made amends for Sofapaka’s missed opportunities to stab in the second in the 40th minute after he was set up by George Maelo.

In Mumias, the match between Kakamega Homeboyz and Muhoroni Youth was called off in the 76 minutes after fans stormed the pitch claiming a penalty awarded to Homeboyz was not genuine. Former Muhoroni striker Wycliffe Ochomo had scored against his former employers after Andrew Kulecho was brought down in the box.

 

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