FKFPL: Mara Sugar blow two-goal lead to draw against Sofapaka
Reading Time: 4min | Tue. 28.10.25. | 17:32
The result lifted Mara Sugar to tenth place on six points, while Sofapaka climbed to 13th with five points ahead of Wednesday’s fixtures
Mara Sugar FC and Sofapaka will have to wait longer for their second wins of the ongoing Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) season after settling for a 2-2 draw at Dandora Stadium on Tuesday, 28 October.
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David Owino and Timothy Ndayala were on target for the Sugar Millers, while Stanley Lugalia and Joseph Kuloba scored for Batoto ba Mungu in a match that swung from end to end.
Coming into the game, Edward Manoah’s Mara had registered just one win, a 2-1 triumph over Ulinzi Stars, alongside two draws against Kakamega Homeboyz and Bidco United, coupled with a narrow 1-0 loss to Nairobi United.
Sofapaka, under Ezekiel Akwana, were also chasing a second win of the season and back-to-back victories, but had to settle for a point despite a spirited late rally.
The result lifted the Sugar Millers to tenth place on six points, while Sofapaka climbed to 13th with five points ahead of Wednesday’s fixtures.
Mara carved out the first real chance of the game in the 26th minute when Timothy Ndayala forced Edward Oluk into a full-stretch save.
Ndayala had collected a pass from Brian Ochieng before weaving into the penalty area and aiming for the far top corner, only for the Sofapaka goalkeeper to tip the effort out for a corner.
Despite Mara’s attacking sparks, Sofapaka enjoyed more of the ball but struggled to unlock the Sugar Millers’ disciplined defence.
On the opposite end, Jimmy Owili, Ndayala, and David Omondi were lively down the flanks but could not convert their industry into goals.
Omondi wasted a glorious chance when he found himself through on goal after a clever Mike Isabwa pass, but shot wide with only the keeper to beat.
The first half was largely flat, with both sides struggling for fluidity on a slippery surface that had players repeatedly losing their footing.
Sofapaka’s only real chance of the half came two minutes before the break when Adrian Oloo’s corner caused confusion in the box before being cleared to safety.
As centre referee David Muriuki blew for halftime, Sofapaka knew they owed their goalless status to goalkeeper Oluk, who had been alert and commanding between the posts.
The players gathered briefly on the touchline for a quick talk before heading to the dressing room.
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The second half began with renewed energy but the same lack of sharpness in front of goal.
Akwana made two changes immediately after the restart, which reignited Sofapaka’s attacking intent, but Mara continued to press high and threaten on the break.
Their persistence paid off in the 57th minute when Brian Ochieng beat his marker and laid the ball to David Owino, who unleashed a thunderbolt from outside the box that dipped under the crossbar to cross the line before bouncing back into play.
Barely three minutes later, Mara almost doubled their lead when Ndayala connected with an Isabwa free kick, but his header was superbly saved by the in-form Oluk.
The pressure eventually told in the 68th minute when former Luanda Villa striker Ndayala found himself perfectly positioned to slot home Mara’s second and his first-ever FKFPL goal.
Once again, Ochieng was the architect, stealing possession from a Sofapaka defender before slipping a low pass into the box.
Owino swung and missed, but the ball fell kindly to Ndayala, who controlled with his right foot and fired home with precision.
However, Mara’s celebrations were short-lived.
Substitute Stanley Lugalia latched onto a defence-splitting pass from midfield and lifted the ball calmly over the advancing Stephen Odhiambo to pull one back for Sofapaka in the 74th minute.
From that point, the midfield turned into a fierce battleground.
Both sides fought for control, with Mara’s Ochieng and Owino trying to dictate tempo while Sofapaka’s Ronald Chimwani and Roy Okal responded with crunching tackles and clever ball distribution.
The game opened up, transitioning rapidly from one end to the other, as fatigue and urgency set in.
Owili was booked in the 80th minute for a late challenge on Chimwani as tempers began to flare.
Mara appeared destined for a hard-earned win until deep into stoppage time, when Sofapaka earned a free kick outside the box.
In the 90+5th minute, Joseph Kuloba stretched out a foot to turn in Oloo’s teasing delivery, the deflection catching Odhiambo off guard and nestling into the back of the net to level the scores.
The late equaliser broke Mara’s hearts, denying them a second win of the campaign, while Sofapaka celebrated a hard-fought point at home.
