Hansel Ochieng sinks City Stars as AFC Leopards go second

Yidah Sven (Left) of Nairobi City Stars FC Isaac Kipyegon of AFC Leopards SC during their FKF-PL match at Kasarani Annex in Nairobi on March 06, 2021. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Hansel Ochieng’ came off the bench to score a last gasp goal as 10-man AFC Leopards beat Nairobi City Stars 1-0 at Kasarani Annex on Saturday.

The result saw AFC Leopards, who have two games in hand, leapfrog KCB into the second spot and close the gap on league leaders Tusker (35) to seven points.

Leopards had to finish the game with one man less after their captain Robinson Kamura was sent off for a reckless tackle on City Stars midfielder Oliver Maloba four minutes into the second half.

In Kericho, Zoo finally registered their first win of the season after seeing off Vihiga United 1-0 in a relegation zone battle tie while Western Stima silenced visiting Wazito by an identical scoreline in Kisumu.

Alex Onchwari’s strike at the stroke of halftime is all that the bottom-rooted Zoo needed to secure the precious win ahead of the two week international break.

In Mombasa, Nzoia Sugar frustrated Bandari to a 1-1 draw in a game that saw both teams finish with 10 men after Brian Otieno (Bandari) and Ian Karani (Nzoia) were red-carded.

But it is AFC  coach Patrick Aussems who was one of the happiest men yesterday following his side’s hard-fought victory against their bogey team City Stars that put them in a pole position to challenge for the title.

“I want to congratulate my players for the job well. We didn’t panic after Kamura’s red card, instead we defended as a unit and never gave up until the final minute,” Aussems told The Standard Sport.

Nairobi City Stars FC coach Sanjin Alagic reacts after their FKF-PL match against AFC Leopards SC at Kasarani Annex in Nairobi on March 06, 2021. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

AFC Leopards leapfrogged KCB into the second spot. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]