NSL: Red card drama as Soy United put brakes on Migori Youth's promotion push
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Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 01.02.26. | 17:53
Both teams finished with ten men after the centre referee dished red cards late in the second half
Promotion hopefuls Migori Youth dropped points again after being held by Soy United to a barren draw at the Eldoret ASK Showground.
Migori had hoped to stretch their lead at the summit and make yet another step towards clinching the National Super League title.
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Soy United, meanwhile, arrived in buoyant mood, riding a five-match winning streak and eager to extend their fine form, while cutting the gap to the leaders to just three points.
Beyond the points at stake, bragging rights were also on the line due to the clubs’ shared sponsorship affiliation, adding further intrigue to a fixture that carried significant implications for the promotion chase.
Both teams are sponsored by the leading gaming firm Mozzart Bet.
Migori made a fast start, dictating the tempo in the opening exchanges and carving out early opportunities.
Syphas Otieno registered the first real sight of goal inside the opening five minutes, outpacing his marker before firing narrowly wide.
Two minutes later, the visitors went close again when Noah Jagongo latched onto a clever dummy from Otieno, only for his goal-bound effort to be blocked by Samuel Twai.
After absorbing the sustained pressure, Soy United gradually settled and created their first opening ten minutes in.
Alfred Ratolo reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the area, but Migori goalkeeper Victor Kamungo was alert to deny the hosts.
Migori continued to probe and nearly broke the deadlock just before the quarter-hour mark when Otieno capitalised on a misjudgement by goalkeeper Sebastien Monio, only for Vincent Cliff to produce a crucial goal-line header clearance.
Churchill Otieno then tested his luck moments later, reacting to a loose clearance but dragging his effort wide.
The visitors remained dominant as halftime approached, with Yusuf Ochieng coming closest five minutes before the break.
Monio spilled a well-delivered free kick from Churchill Otieno into Ochieng’s path, but Jeptha Okiring’s timely clearance preserved Soy’s clean sheet.
Further, late chances through Jagongo and Vincent Wanga were thwarted by resolute defending before Migori were forced into an early substitution, with Victor Juma replacing the injuredwithongo.
Juma nearly made an immediate impact, meeting Churchill’s floated delivery with a free header, though his effort lacked the power to trouble Monio.
Soy pushed bodies forward in the closing moments of the half, but Migori’s backline held firm to ensure the sides went into the interval goalless.
Soy United returned from the break with renewed intensity and almost took the lead six minutes into the second half.
Harrison Lutta’s well-weighted cross found Ratolo, whose effort was blocked by Migori skipper Kelly Otieno in a decisive intervention.
Migori responded through substitute Robinson Kamura, whose ambitious long-range strike from nearly 35 yards narrowly missed the target.
The hosts continued to grow into the contest and came close again through Mohamed Wangai, who failed to convert Ratolo’s inviting delivery with the goal at his mercy.
Seven minutes past the hour mark, Erick Namasaka forced Kamungo into a dipping save with a well-struck effort following a loose clearance.
Against the run of play, Migori nearly stole the lead twenty minutes from time when Elvis Wafula combined neatly with Churchill before volleying inches wide.
Soy then went close themselves as Wangai pounced on a poor clearance, firing a fierce shot that Kamungo spilled, only for Migori defenders to react swiftly and deny the onrushing Namasaka.
Migori had the final clear chance of the contest eight minutes from time when Wafula rose highest to meet Collins Otieno’s delivery, but he was unable to direct his header on target.
Drama unfolded in the closing stages as both sides were reduced to ten men, summing up a fiercely contested derby that neither team was willing to lose.
Despite the draw Migori, remained top of the table standings tied on 37 points with second place Mombasa United who piped Kabati Youth 1-0 ,while Soy resurgence continued extending their unbeaten run to six matches.
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