NSL: Mathare United hand Mara Sugar FC first defeat of the season

Mara Sugar tasted their first defeat of the National Super League Season after going 2-0 down to Mathare United at Utalii Grounds, Nairobi on Saturday afternoon.

Mathare approached the match fresh from the Coast blues that had the Leonard Odipo coached side succumb to a 3-1 beating at Mombasa Stars last weekend. On the other hand, Mara came into the match beaming with confidence following an impressive start to the season since promotion to the second tier and were seeking for a fifth successive win of the term.

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Both teams dominated the play in the first half with the duo of Philemon Nyakwaka and Samuel Odaro causing a lot of havoc for the slum boys defense whereas Pascal Ogweno missed clear cut chances in the first stanza to put the former Kenya Premier League champions ahead.

Immediately after the restart, Mathare switched their formation in the duel that had them close the spaces for the millers and attacking from the flanks and it bore fruits in the 54th minute as Ogweno latched on a loose corner ball to head the host in the lead after several failed attempts at the Eliud Emase manned goal.

A determined Mara staged a fight to grab an equalizer launching attacks from the midfield through Brian Ochieng and Yusuf Blondi, however, Mathare backline dealt perfectly with all the balls the duo sunk in their yard denying red hot Nyakwaka from initiating any attack.

Mathare United continued to press from the flanks and it paid off in the 85th minute when center back Joseph Okwenda mishandled the ball in the penalty area leaving the center referee with no choice but point at the spot for a penalty that Timothy Otieno converted calmly to double the Bob Munro powered club lead and seal maximum points.

The win lifts Mathare to fourth on the standings whereas victory for Naivas in Gusii will relegate the Sugar men to second on the log.

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At Awendo Green Stadium, playing the first match behind the scenes, Migori Youth came from behind to force a draw against Nairobi United.

Nairobi had got the lead in the first half through Rodgers Oporia but a 58th minute strike from Elly Owande ensured the spoils are shared.

Speaking after the match the Naibois head coach Paul Okatwa expressed satisfaction with his charge’s performance noting that a win away from home is a plus to the team that is seeking a promotion in their first season in the second tier.

“The boys displayed some great football and we deserved to win the match. We dominated every aspect of the game and I am satisfied by the one point as we go back to the drawing board and now working on the winning,” he said.

In another early kick-off game played at Mumboha Grounds in Luanda, Villa played yet another stalemate as they came from behind to hold Kajiado FC to a one all draw.

Ayub Twaha had Kajiado ahead earlier in the first half before Paul Munala leveled in the 58th minute. The draw is Villa’s fifth of the season and leaves them eight on the league standings.