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The Nairobian

FINE FORM COUNTS: As Mathare beat Thika United to join AFC at top of KPL table

Football

By RODGERS ESHITEMI and REBECCA JEBET | Mar 14, 2016

**MATHARE VS THIKA UNITED Thika United's Asad Musa, left and Mathare's George Owino at Thika Stadium during their Kenya Premier league match on sunday, March 13, 2016. PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD.**

Allan Kateregga scored an equaliser as AFC Leopards continued their unbeaten run after being held to a 1-1 draw by their bogey team Chemelil Sugar at Nyayo Stadium.

AFC head coach Ivan Minnaert said he was satisfied with the result, but urged his players to remain focused.

“We didn’t have a good first half, but improved in the second. As far as I concerned that is not good result for us, but I am satisfied with a point,” Minnaert told Feverpitch.

“I understand it has always been hard to play against Chemelil but we must maintain our winning mentality.”

But for his Chemelil counterpart Francis Baraza, poor officiating cost them victory.

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“We have lost two points due to poor refereeing, but I thank the boys for the job well done. Poor communication between my goalkeeper and defender gifted them the goal,” said Baraza.

“I partially blame my boys for the draw because we dominated possession. We still have long way to go. But the encouraging thing is that we have only conceded two goals in the last five matches.”

The draw saw AFC take their points tally to eleven same as the league leaders Mathare United who leapfrogged them courtesy of goal superiority after beating Thika United 1-0.

Lamine Diallo had the best chance for AFC, but shot feebly under pressure from Chemelil defender Joseph Okumu.

The millers then took the lead on the stroke of halftime when Dennis Onkangi rose high above his markers to head home a superb cross from veteran midfielder Hillary Echesa cross.

Leopards made changes on restart with Simon Abuko paving way for Andrew Tololwa.

And on the hour mark the millers were punished when a good build up play from AFC midfield saw Juma race down the left to deliver a brilliant cross that had Odhiambo fumbling for Kateregga to pounce on the spilled ball and draw level.

At Thika Stadium, in-form Mathare United maintained their unbeaten run in the league after a 1-0 win over Thika United.

Obadiah Ndege scored the lone goal for the Slum Boys in the 68th minute to give Francis Kimanzi's side a deserved win.

The match started on a low note with both sides sizing each other up in the first ten minutes, with Harrison Mwendwa rounding off Thika captain Denis Odhimbo inside the goal area, but his effort was futile.

Ndege could have given Mathare the opener in the eighth minute but his bicycle kick went over the bar. A minute later Thika made a counter attack with Kennedy Otieno forcing Mathare custodian Robert Mboya to make a crucial save.

Mathare United conceded a free kick outside the goal area, but goalkeeper Mboya dealt with the resultant free kick. In the 19th minute the home team conceded a free-kick outside the goal area but Eric Johanna blasted wide.

Mwendwa was a thorn in the flesh for Thika as he forced a corner kick in the 30th minute but custodian Hamza Muwonge punched the ball with a follow up from Roy Symba going wide.