NSL: Mathare, Nairobi United pick wins as Mara Sugar are held

Mathare United captain Godfrey Ochieng's strike was all the difference as the Slum boys scored late in the second half to break a stubborn Assad in a match played at Utalii Grounds on Saturday afternoon.

The win, which was their second in a row and fourth in the last five, sees the Slum Boys continue with their charge in the National Super League where they are third on the log with 13 points from the first six games.

In Saturday's highlight match, Nairobi United bounced back to winning ways on Saturday beating a resilient Mulembe United side in a National Super League match played at Kasarani Annex

Prior to the match, the Paul Odhiambo instructed side had recorded back-to-back draws against Silibwet Leons and Migori Youth which had aggravated concerns from the club supporters.

After a slow start to the half from the pair, red hot Brian Lisamukha got the ball rolling with an outrageous 13th minute volley before new acquisition Kennedy Onzere leveled the scores for Mulembe in the 25th minute.

The visitors showed improvement after the goal, however, all the efforts at goal were thwarted by the resurgent Naibois custodian who was tasked to keep the league debutants in the match.

Nothing was to come in the first stanza following the goal as both sides casted their nets carefully to head into the breather tied on 1-1.

Despite renewed energies from both teams after the restart, nothing was coming in the opening forty minutes of the half and dozens of fans who had thronged Annex had to wait until the 80th minute when a clumsy mistake from Mulembe net minder Peter Madala awarded Nairobi a penalty that was calmly slotted home for a winner.

Mulembe head coach Samuel Twago attributed the loss to individual mistakes that he, however, noted will be rectified in the subsequent training sessions.

"We lost because of individual mistakes, which if avoided we were going to get points from this game," he offered.

Kabras RFC sign two new faces as 2023/24 Kenya Cup season looms

Mara Sugar 2-2 Dimba Patriots

At Awendo Green Stadium, Mara Sugar had to come twice from behind to pick a point against a wounded Dimba Patriots.

In what was the first match for the millers since the exit of Francis Xavier, Mara got themselves behind after 26 minutes but showed composure to settle the scores ten minutes later with the on song Philemon Nyakwaka stepping up to convert from the spot.

Idd Shikanda's Patriots restored their lead three minutes after the restart and held on until the last ten minutes of the play when the returning Ruben Mita struck from close range to salvage a point for the sugar men.

Inspite of the stalemate, Mara will have another week at the top of the Super League table with second placed Naivas out of action this weekend.

At Silibwet Green Stadium, Jimmy Owili made it two goals in two matches as he netted deep in the second stanza to secure a point for Mark Otieno Asa's side against Kajiado FC.

National Super League Saturday Results

Nairobi United 2-1 Mulembe United

Silibwet Leons 1-1 Kajiado FC

Mara Sugar 2-2 Dimba Patriots

Mathare United 1-0 SS Assad