Sofapaka end Mathare United’s unbeaten run

Sofapaka FC's Faina Jacobs celebrate their victory against Bandari FC during KPL match at Kenyatta Stadium on Sunday Oct 6, 2019. Sofapaka FC won 2-1. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Brian Nyakan’s first-half strike is all Sofapaka needed at Kasarani Stadium yesterday as they ended Mathare United’s nine-game unbeaten run in the Kenyan Premier League.

But it was a bad day for cash-strapped Sony Sugar as they have officially been relegated from the topflight football after failing to honour their away match against Zoo.

This was the former league champions’ third walkover of the season after they failed to turn up for their home match against AFC Leopards and away to Tusker.

Chemelil Sugar also failed to travel to Machakos for their fixture against KCB. This is Chemelil’s second walkover after dishing out the three points to Bandari.

“It is a sad day in the Kenyan football but rules must be followed. In this case, Sony Sugar have been suspended for the rest of the season after failing to honour three matches this season,” KPL CEO Jack Oguda told Standard Sports.

“Thus, they have been relegated to the lower league and since they had not played more than half of their matches, all the matches they played have been scrapped off.”

In Bungoma, Posta Rangers beat Nzoia Sugar 2-0 to go level on 17 points with third-placed Kakamega Homeboyz, Tusker and Mathare.

But Mathare will have themselves to blame for being wasteful in front of goal with trio of James Kinyanjui, Clifford Alwanga and John Mwangi the major culprits.

Sofapaka threatened first in the sixth minute when Brian Nyakan pounced on a loose ball at the edge of the box, but his effort went wide.

Mathare responded after three minutes when James Kinyanjui earned them a free kick in a promising position, but Kinyanjui and Clifford Alwanga failed to make contact on Kevin Kimani’s pinpointed delivery.

Kinyanjui, who was a thorn in Batoto Ba Mungu’s defence, came close to opening the scores in the 13th minute but his feeble shot went inches wide after being released through in the box by Kimani.

Mathare could have been punished 10 minutes later, but one of their defenders did well to block Peter Lwasa’s close-range effort before Kinyanjui forced a fine save from Sofapaka goalkeeper Isima Watengo.

Elly Asieche then played a fantastic one-two with Nyakan but right-back Martin Ongori recovered fast to intercept Asieche’s effort.

In Kisumu, novices Kisumu All Stars registered their second win of the season after defeating Wazito 2-0 yesterday at Moi Stadium.

Martin Oduor and Erick Otieno’s second-half goals were enough to hand the lakeside outfit the win which saw them move out of the relegation zone.

All Stars were first off the block three minutes into the second half from the penalty spot.

[Additional reporting by Washington Onyango]

Wazito defender David Otieno was found capable of handling inside the keeper's box when trying to stop the hosts winger Dismus Amunga and Odoir stepped up to slot past Kevin Onyango.

 

Otenga’s stopper Geoffrey Were would then be called into action numerous times by Wazito’s dangerous trio of Derrick Onyango, Musa Masika, and Paul Acqua but it was the hosts who had the last laugh as Otieno sealed the win with a sublime 79th-minute goal.

Speaking after the win, All Stars coach Henry Omino said they started the season on a slow but they are on thier way to bringing positive results.