Kenya Police march to Mozzart Bet Cup final after ousting Bandari on penalties

Kenya Police FC advanced to their second Mozzart Bet Cup final in three years after edging Bandari FC 5-3 on penalties following a barren draw in regular time in a semi-final staged at the Nyayo Stadium on Saturday, 16 May.

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Bandari missed the chance to enjoy vociferous home support in the final, which will be staged at the 13,000-seater Kwale Stadium on Sunday, 14 June, that the club has used for various home matches this season.

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The Law Enforcers will be looking to lift their second Mozzart Bet Cup title in three years when they face five-time winners Tusker FC in the highly anticipated final.

Police got into the semi-final after a 1-0 win over Shabana FC in the quarter-final through a sublime free kick by Abud Omar.

Bandari, on the other hand, hammered FKF Division One side Mfalme FC 5-2 in the last eight.

The match started at a frenetic pace, both teams going hard in tackles and using direct balls to launch attacks in search of an early goal.

Police had an early opportunity in the fourth minute when Yves Koutima dribbled past Majabe, who brought him down just outside the box, with referee Josephine Wanjiru forced to whistle for a foul, which was taken by Abud Omar, but his free kick was blocked by Brian Odera in the Bandari wall.

Omar was back at it with another free kick in the 13th minute, but this time no one was there to connect to it as the chance went begging.

Bandari had their chance in the 15th minute when Abdallah Hassan whipped a cross to Frank Ouya, but the Ghanaian shot wide from a lucrative position.

The Dockers would then survive a scare in the 27th minute when a long throw by Daniel Sakari went past Allaine Ngeleka, but Kevin Otieno’s header missed the target.

Clearly enjoying a good spell, the coastal side created another chance at the half-hour mark, but William Wadri saw his header go inches wide from a Hassan cross.

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Odera would then be booked in the 37th minute for an outstretched arm that found Koutiama on the face.

Erick Zakayo, who was under tight marking, found space in the 40th minute to shoot, but he saw his effort blocked by Odera.

The half’s last chance fell to Amza Mubarak, who, from outside the box, took a shot that was heading goalwards but was blocked by Omar as the teams headed to halftime level.

In a bid to galvanise the forward line, Police head coach Nicholas Muyoti made a triple substitution, introducing Edward Omondi, Marvin Nabwire and Samuel Quansah for Zakayo, Brian Chonjo and Awesu Nana.

Omondi, in particular, brought more punch to the Police attack, putting Erickson Mulu on the back foot with his runs and dribbles.

Nabwire also found a chance in the 55th minute but whipped his shot over the bar from outside the box.

Quansah had an opportunity wasted in the 63rd minute when, on a free header from an Omondi cross, he headed straight at Ngeleka.

From the 70th minute, both teams adopted a conservative approach to the match, choosing to stay solid at the back to avoid conceding.

Bandari saw Odera, who was already on a yellow card, survive a second booking in the 78th minute when he clutched onto Koutiama but was not cautioned.

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Quansah had a rare chance for Police in the 84th minute, but his shot from long range went wide off the left post.

Bandari would then survive a scare in the 90th minute when Omondi got to the end of a Malonga cross, set up Koutiama, who unleashed a shot that was saved by Ngeleka before Clinton Kinanga was adjudged to be in an offside position from the rebound.

In the end, both teams pushed for a winning goal, but just like it was in the first semi-final, it was left to the penalty shootouts to determine the winner.

Police took the first spotkick through Kelvin Ouma, who expertly slotted in against the crossbar to put his team on the front foot before Mubarak levelled with his kick, kissing the inside of the left post.

Captain Abud Omar, Clinton Kinanga, and Yves Koutiama would then score for Police before Marvin Nabwire sealed the win after Frank Ouya missed the last kick for Bandari.

Bandari scored their kicks through Said Tsuma and Shariff Majabe.