Mara Sugar's late brace ends AFC Leopards unbeaten run
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Reading Time: 5min | Sat. 08.11.25. | 15:37
The result lifted Mara Sugar to seventh on 10 points, easing pressure on their camp, while AFC Leopards remained third with 12 points, their hopes of going top slipping away in the Awendo dusk
A late brace from Dennis Cheruiyot was enough to hand AFC Leopards their first defeat of the 2025/26 FKF Premier League season, as Mara Sugar FC triumphed 2–0 at the Awendo Green Stadium on Saturday.
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Cheruiyot struck twice in the closing stages, first with a towering 87th-minute header, then again in stoppage time, to end Leopards’ six-game unbeaten streak and deny Ingwe a golden chance to go top of the table.
It was a painful afternoon for Fred Ambani’s men, who came into the fixture looking to temporarily occupy the summit.
Ingwe, who had rediscovered form after a slow start, had won their last three matches and were tipped to continue their resurgence.
Mara Sugar, on the other hand, were desperate for redemption after a turbulent few weeks both on and off the pitch.
The victory not only earned them their first home win of the season but also lifted spirits across the Awendo stands, evident in the wild celebrations following Cheruiyot’s second strike.
Match Report
Experienced top-flight referee Badir Yassin signalled the start of proceedings, with the Millers taking the first kick of the game.
Despite high expectations for fireworks given both teams’ recent form, the match began on a rather subdued note.
The opening minutes were scrappy, with passes rarely going beyond four touches before being intercepted.
Both AFC Leopards and Mara Sugar seemed trapped in a tug of war for rhythm, their play broken and disjointed.
The first booking came early, in the second minute, David Owino saw yellow for a reckless challenge on James Kinyanjui.
From the ensuing free kick, Kinyanjui’s delivery was headed clear by Robinson Musungu, summing up the hesitant start from both sides.
The first real moment of danger arrived in the 10th minute when Timothy Ndayala rose above Emmanuel Lwangu to meet a looping cross.
His header rolled agonizingly across the face of the goal, close, but not close enough.
That moment seemed to wake up the hosts.
The Millers began to find their footing, probing more confidently near Leopards’ goal.
Mike Isabwa’s deliveries from the flanks caused brief spells of panic, though none found a decisive touch.
By the 25th minute, tensions were simmering.
Ndayala’s clumsy foul on Ken Owino earned him a yellow card.
As the game crossed the half-hour mark, it was clear creativity had gone missing in action.
The contest turned into a duel of half-chances and hurried clearances.
Leopards’ best opening came in the 37th minute through neat interplay between Elias Mugane and Kelly Madada.
Mugane beat his marker with pace, but his first touch betrayed him, sending the ball sailing wide, which was more relief than regret for the sizeable home crowd.
In the closing moments of the first half, both teams tried to break through the well-organised defensive walls, but their efforts hit human barricades each time.
Mara’s persistence only earned them corners, six in total, compared to Leopards’ two, but none translated into a shot on target.
At halftime, the scoreboard remained untouched, and the game, like the grey clouds hanging over Awendo, lacked spark.
It was a dull first half of more perspiration than inspiration.
Second Half
The second half picked up right where the first had left off, scrappy and short on creativity.
Mara made an early change, introducing Felix Kasila Opiyo for Isabwa as they sought to inject more energy into their attack.
In the 55th minute, Leopards’ striker Mugane found himself well-marshalled by Drona Langa, who kept the hosts’ defense composed under pressure.
Concerned by his team’s blunt attack, Ambani made a double substitution in the 57th minute, withdrawing Madada and Beja for Kayci Odhiambo and Ronald Bebeto.
Mara coach Edward Manoah responded almost immediately, bringing on tormentor Dennis Cheruiyot for David Omondi, a move that would later prove decisive.
Mara had a penalty appeal waved away in the 62nd minute after Kevin Mwivali claimed that Ken Owino handled the ball inside the box, but referee Badir ruled that it had struck the defender’s knee, awarding only a corner.
Their first shot on target came in the 70th minute, when full-back Joseph Okwenda unleashed a thunderbolt from range only for Leopards’ goalkeeper Humphrey Katasi to collect calmly.
With the match still cagey and long balls dominating play, Ambani threw in a triple substitution in the 75th minute: Julius Masaba, Victor Omune, and Christopher Koloti replaced Brian Ojok, Bonface Munyendo, and Mugane, respectively.
Moments later, Kayci was booked for a foul on Mwivali after appearing to poke the defender in the eye during an aerial challenge.
Leopards briefly looked lively afterwards, Omune and Lwangu both came close with headers that flew narrowly wide within a frantic two-minute spell.
Sensing an opportunity to capitalise on Ingwe’s missed chances, Manoah made his final change, introducing Tony Omondi for Timothy Ndayala in the 80th minute.
Then came the twist. In the 87th minute, Owili curled in a free kick from the edge of the box, and Cheruiyot rose highest at the far post to nod home the opener.
As Ingwe pushed forward desperately for an equaliser, Mara struck again deep into stoppage time.
A clever pass split the defense, and Cheruiyot, composed and confident, beat his marker before slotting past Katasi with a crisp right-footed finish to seal a memorable 2–0 win.
The result lifted Mara Sugar to seventh on 10 points, easing pressure on their camp, while AFC Leopards remained third with 12 points, their hopes of going top slipping away in the Awendo dusk.
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