FKFPL: Ulinzi Stars' troubles persist after bowing to Sofapaka

Sofapaka completed their season double over Ulinzi Stars after emerging 1-0 winners in a Friday FKF Premier League match staged at Ulinzi Sports Complex, Nairobi.

Having beaten their opponents 4-1 in the first-leg meeting in December, Batoto Ba Mungu capitalised on one moment of indecision from Ulinzi to see them bounce back from a shock loss to Talanta last week, and further compound problems for Dunstan Nyaudo’s side.

The only goal of the game came in the 40th minute, when Sofapaka striker Bramwel Simiyu latched onto a long Baron Ochieng throw-in before outmuscling last man Bildad Abonga to poke in past Issa Emuria.

Sofapaka had moments before the opener threatened, but Wayne Otieno struck a post at the half-hour mark, with target-man Victor Okello heading a Humphrey Mieno freekick well wide.

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The result, which makes it 10 losses for Ulinzi, will sting the more for the hosts, who carved out brilliant opportunities but ended up going down for the fourth time on the bounce.

One such opportunity fell to Javan Omondi, cutting his way inside the box from the right, only to sail his curler way over Edward Olak’s goal.

Staphod Odhiambo, on two occasions either half, failed to stick one past the Sofapaka goalkeeper, with his ambitious first-half strike being punched out at the near-post.

When the striker made one kiss the net deep into first-half stoppage time, he was deemed to have handled the ball, further signifying their lack of luck on a calm afternoon.

Abonga, in a piece of good defending, prevented the visitors from doubling the lead early in the second-half, but at the other end, the right touch stayed further away from the soldiers.

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A late gift from Olak was neither beneficial, with Joseph Ochieng hitting a spilled ball from the keeper way over the bar.

The win for Sofapaka lifts them to seventh on the log, as troubled Ulinzi look behind all weekend, as they stand just four points off the relegation spots.