Mathare United's last-gasp goal downs Nairobi United
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 04.12.25. | 18:22
The win lifts the Slum Boys out of the relegation zone as Nairobi United's two-game league winning streak was halted
Mathare United left it late before edging Kenya's CAF Confederation Cup representatives, Nairobi United, 1–0 in an FKF Premier League clash at the Dandora Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
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The decisive moment arrived in the 83rd minute when Paul Kinyanjui capitalised on a poor defensive clearance to slot home the winner, lifting the Slum Boys out of the relegation zone.
Nairobi United were returning to league action after four weeks of continental duty, and with the CAF Confederation Cup on a break to allow room for Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) preparations in Morocco, Naibois hosted Mathare to begin catching up on their five pending league matches.
The hosts handed a debut to former Murang’a Seal defender David Wafula, who started at right-back, while Ugandan midfielder Shafic Ssebyala and goalkeeper Ernest Mohammed, recently back from injury, were named on the bench.
Mathare, meanwhile, retained most of their regular starters, with the only notable change being Herit Mungai’s inclusion at left-back.
Mathare started the brighter of the two sides and thought they had taken the lead in the eighth minute, but David Okoth’s finish was ruled out for offside.
Before that, Mohammed Kilume had narrowly missed the target, and Okoth went close again minutes later when his left-footed effort failed to trouble the net. Nairobi United absorbed the early pressure but looked threatening on the break.
In the 27th minute, Nairobi United created their best opportunity of the first half, but Mathare goalkeeper Kevin Ouru produced a superb block to deny Shami Kibwana what seemed a certain goal.
Moments later, Okoth squandered another promising chance after being put through by Kilume, who was forced off with an injury shortly afterwards and replaced by joint league top scorer Eli Asieche.
Asieche nearly grabbed his fifth of the season before halftime, but his strike was deflected straight into the arms of Nairobi United keeper Kevin Oduor.
Nairobi United showed significant improvement after the break and should have opened the scoring ten minutes into the second half when Majaliwa Charo weaved into the Mathare penalty area, only for his shot to miss the target by inches.
A contentious moment followed in the 67th minute when Mathare defender Fidel Otieno was fouled near the box. The visitors insisted the challenge occurred inside the penalty area, but the referee awarded a free-kick outside, a decision that drew strong protests but eventually stood. The resulting set piece yielded no reward.
Just when the match seemed destined for a stalemate, Mathare struck. In the 83rd minute, a miscued clearance landed kindly for Kinyanjui, who made no mistake from close range to secure a crucial win for the visitors.
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