AFC Leopards cut Gor Mahia's lead to six points after win over Mara Sugar
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Reading Time: 4min | Sat. 09.05.26. | 18:11
The record league champions, however, have a game in hand, facing on-form Kenya Police FC on Sunday, leaving Ingwe to clutch on straws in a bid to lift the league title for the first time since 1998
AFC Leopards revived their faint hopes of quenching their 28-year FKF Premier League title drought after moving to within six points of table toppers Gor Mahia following their 2-1 win over Mara Sugar FC.
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The record league champions, however, have a game in hand, facing on-form Kenya Police FC on Sunday, leaving Ingwe to clutch on straws in a bid to lift the league title for the first time since 1998.
Keen on recovering from back-to-back losses, Leopards began the match on a high note, controlling possession and causing Mara problems through James Kinyanjui on the right flank.
Leopards had the first opportunity to open the scores in the third minute when Kinyanjui’s cross was blocked for a corner before Beja could meet it.
A minute later, it was captain Victor Omune who was put through on goal by Tyson Otieno, but was too slow to connect to the neat pass.
By the 10th minute, Leopards had forced Mara to defend deep into their own half as the Kenyan giants were enjoying a good spell.
For their impressive start to the game, Leopards took the lead in the 13th minute when Kinyanjui found Hassan Beja with a ball on the edge of the box that the latter met with a ferocious strike that rippled the back of the net to give Leopards the lead.
Even with the lead, the Fred Ambani-coached side continued to push for a second goal but were let down by misplaced passes in the final third, especially from Omune leading up to the 20th minute.
The visitors would then start exerting their presence in the match from the 20th minute through Jim Owili and Harun Thomas.
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Mara would then get a lifeline in the half-hour mark when Kayci Odhiambo brought down Dennis Cheruiyot in the box, forcing referee Badr Yasin to point to the spot.
Captain Daniel Openda stepped up from 12 yards and sent Katasi the wrong way to level the scores and bring Mara back into the game.
The goal seemed to have pumped more life into Mara, who created back-to-back chances in the 35th minute but were let down by misplaced passes.
Leopards staged a late push for a goal in the last five minutes of the half, but from half-chances, goalkeeper Joseph Ogenda made comfortable saves to ensure it was 1-1 at halftime.
Ingwe returned to the second half with more urgency and intensity in search of a goal, and almost took the lead in the 58th minute, but Omune’s shot was blocked by Robinson Musungu in the 48th minute.
Two minutes later, Kelly Madada was brought down just outside the box with Kayci stepping up to take the resultant free kick, but it went straight into the arms of Ogenda.
At the other end of the pitch, Timothy Ndayala got to the end of an Owili cross, but his header was nowhere near the target.
The match, which was now end-to-end, saw Tyson Otieno get a chance in the 54th minute when he picked a loose ball outside the box, but his shot was deflected for a corner with Ogenda well beaten.
Alex Imbusia would then waste a glorious opportunity to give Mara the lead in the 59th minute as his shot from a one-on-one with Katasi went inches wide.
Mara were punished for that missed chance two minutes later when Tyson Otieno’s shot was blocked by Ogenda, but Omune was quick to pounce on it and slot home to give Leopards the lead even as the Sugar Millers protested, calling for an offside.
Mara would then get a chance to pull one back in the 69th minute, but Kelvin Mwavali missed a free header.
The Sugar Millers would get yet another opportunity two minutes later, this time, Musingu, the culprit of heading a free header over the bar.
Leopards came closest in the 74th minute when, from a quick transition, Kinyanjui and Madada exchanged neat passes to put Tyson through on goal, who dribbled past Ogenda but saw his strike kiss the inside of the post and back to play.
Samuel Semo had his chance a minute later, but his goalward shot was blocked by Musungu for a fruitless corner.
Mara staged an intensified push for an equaliser, but it was not enough to yield another goal as Leopards soothed Mashemeji Derby agony with a win that takes their point tally to 58, six shy of Gor Mahia, who face Kenya Police on Sunday, 10 May.
For Mara, their good run of three consecutive wins comes to an end after they conceded two to end a three-match streak with clean sheets.