Bandari hit Tusker, AFC score four: Bandari keep hope alive of catching leaders Gor Mahia

Nakumatt FC's Jacobs Faina (left) and Jafari Odenyi of AFC during Kpl match at Kenyatta Stadium Machakos County on Sunday, Aug 12, 2018. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

In Machakos, Odera’s brace inspires Leopards to an emphatic win as Mathare snap eight-game winless run.

Prolific Ezekiel Odera struck a brace to inspired AFC Leopards to an emphatic 4-2 victory over Nakumatt as Mathare United ended an eight-game winless run after seeing off Kariobangi Sharks 2-1 in yesterday’s Slum derby at Kasarani Stadium.

Ahmed Ahmad was the hero at Kasarani, scoring an 84th minute free kick to secure Mathare’s first ever win against their rivals and end their horrendous run.

At Ruaraka, resurgent Bandari kept their SportPesa Premier League title hunt alive by stunning former champions Tusker on a day Wazito lifted themselves out of the bottom of the log with 3-1 away win at Thika United.

Yema Mwana’s lone goal saw the high-flying dockers reduce their gap on league leaders Gor Mahia, who face Kakamega Homeboyz in Machakos today, to eleven points.

In Machakos, Leopards dominated possession and were clinical in front of goal and held out for a deserved win against a resilient Nakumatt side.

Enterprising winger Jaffari Owiti opened the floodgates in the fifth minute followed by Odera’s brace in a span of three minutes before Marvin Omondi completed the rout midway through the second half.

Owiti received an incisive through pass from Odera, to slot the ball past goalkeeper Philip Odhiambo.

Nakumatt responded immediately, but captain Duncan Otieno recovered quickly to stop Brian Nyakan’s goal bound attempt.

Owiti then earned a free kick for Leopards in the tenth minute, but Otieno was denied by the cross bar before Marvin Omondi missed a golden chance to double Leopards’ lead.

However,  after a series of raids Odera comfortably controlled Moses Mburu’s pass to beat the advancing keeper before he made took his season tally to 11 three mnutes later with Leopards’ third goal after an impressive build up.

Joe Waithira pulled a goal back from the spot in the 23rd minute after he was brought down in the box by goalkeeper Ezekiel Owade.

Moments later, Clinton Kisiavuki effort outside the box bounced off target before Kelvin Thairu forced a fine save from Owade as Baker Lukooya replaced injured Mburu on Leopards’ side.

Odera’s close range then veered off the target before Edward Seda sent his effort straight at the keeper.

Leopards could have regained their three goals cushion in the 40th minute but Odhiambo did well to block Seda before Odera failed to capitalise on the keeper’s mistake to grab a hattrick.

Nakumatt created a couple of half chances in the opening minutes of the second half, but solid Leopards’ defence kept their attackers at bay.

Waithera had a chance to reduce the deficit but was blocked before Awade denied Harun Nyakha on a one-on-one situation on the hour mark.

Leopards responded immediately with a quick counter attack, Marvin Omondi easily looped the ball over the keeper before burying the ball into an empty net.

Waithira saw his 77th minute effort go agonizingly wide before Timonah Wanyonyi’s deflected shot beat Owade to make the score 4-2.