S. GitahiDaniel Otieno strikes late as Mathare down Sharks
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Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 15.02.23. | 18:08
The slum boys have now secured back-to-back wins
A dramatic late header from striker Daniel Otieno produced the big moment of the game as Mathare United saw off Kariobangi Sharks 2-1 in an entertaining FKFPL game played at the Kasarani Annex grounds on Wednesday afternoon.
Deadlocked at 1-1, Otieno rose highest to glance a header into the net, one that all but secured back to back victories for the Slum Boys.
The win pushed Mathare United out of the automatic relegation places as they now sit 16th on the log with a total of 9 points.
"I am really happy with the result," Mathare United interim head coach Samuel Koko said after the win. "Its all about the confidence from last week against Vihiga."
On the opposite end, a distraught William Muluya sat unmoved on his seat in the technical area and wasn't available for media interviews post match.
Kariobangi Sharks, with their fourth loss of the season, are thirteenth with 16 points gained.
Both teams struggled to find balance in the opening minutes of the game, as Mathare United opted to run their offense through their pacy wingers with Kariobangi Sharks struggling to get a grip on their calculated pass scheme.
It was Kariobangi Sharks that created the first scoring opportunity as Geoffrey Onyango found himself free on the right wing, only to shoot straight at the returning Jairo Bernard in goal.
Mathare United dominated play in the next 10 minutes and almost took the lead in the 20th minute as Joseph Odhiambo found Francis Wasike only for his shot to be blocked.
A similar chance fell to Sharks in a quick counter attack but Kibiwott's effort was blasted into Were's path.
Mathare United's Donald Ange was soon lining up to take the team's penalty in the 28th minute after Ekhavi cluttered him inside the 18-yard box.
Ange expertly converted the spot-kick to the top left corner to give Mathare a 1-0 lead.
Curtis Wekesa almost made it 2-0 a minute later but his shot went inches wide.
A quick change by William Muluya gave opportunity for Paul Odhiambo inside the half hour mark for Tyson Otieno but it was Mathare who carried the advantage at halftime.
Second half.
It didn't take long for Sharks to equalize as diminutive striker Matthew Kibiwott found himself free on the left channel to poke home past a hapless Jairo.
Kariobangi Sharks looked to have solved their offensive inefficiencies in the first half as they raided the Mathare box for much of the second half.
Kibiwott couldn't put his feet together when a teasing cross from Geoffrey Onyango fell to his path in the 57th minute.
Onyango then had a decent shot saved in the 59th minute before new entrant Paul Odhiambo had one of his curled shots brilliantly saved by Jairo - who took sometime on the turf to catch a break.
You could feel an upset in the air and it soon came, deep into the 85th minute of the game.
A long throw-in by Brian Okeyo caught Kevin Ouru napping, with Daniel Otieno seizing the opportunity to loop his header into the net.
LINEUPS.
Mathare United:
Jairo Bernard, Fidel Otieno, Joseph Odhiambo, Brian Okeyo, Gideon Were, Derrick Ikholi, Curtis Wekesa, Khalid Jumaan, Donald Ange, Steve Kimani, Francis Wasike.
SUBSTITUTES: Brian Olang'o, Augustine Kuta, Reagan Onyango, Dennis Sakhwe, Victor Kioko, Chris Opondo, Douglas Koech, Daniel Otieno, Samson Otieno.
Kariobangi Sharks:
Kevin Ouru, Kevin Musamali, Timothy Ikhavi, Collins Obanda, Geoffrey Onyango, Keith Imbali, Fortune Omoto, Julius Julius Masaba, Matthew Kibiwott, Shariff Musa, Tyson Otieno
SUBSTITUTES: Gideon Ogweno, Leon Otieno, Dan Guya, Biron Otieno, Isaac Wasambo, Sigmunn Maina, Paul Odhiambo, Moses Shikanda.
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