Paul Okoth's brace against Mathare United hands Ulinzi Stars lifeline in relegation battle

Gor Mahia linked Paul Okoth handed relegation-threatened Ulinzi Stars a shot in the arm in a bid to avoid the drop after grabbing an important 2-1 win over Mathare United in a league match played at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on Saturday, 23 May.

Download our Mozzart Sport app for more news

The Soldiers went into the match sitting 16th and in the relegation zone with 32 points, staring at the possibility of being swallowed by the wide jaws of the chop.

The military side had failed to win their previous three matches, including a 2-0 loss at home to AFC Leopards, and were therefore in desperate search for a win that would augment their survival chances.

Kariobangi Sharks drop into relegation zone despite last-gasp Homeboyz draw

The Slum Boys, on the other hand, were 13th on the log with 38 points and still in the relegation matrix with an existential threat to drop to the second tier.

However, they went into the match full of confidence, having secured a hard-fought 1-0 win away to Mara Sugar FC in their previous match.

The match started at a high tempo, but Ulinzi were nervous in the opening minutes, while Mathare had a go at goal in the second minute through Denis Okoth, but his strike was off target.

Ulinzi started growing into the game in the fifth minute, opting to build from the back and had their first opportunity in the eighth minute when Staphord Odhiambo picked the ball from the middle of the park, took on Omondi with his dribble to the box before going down, but referee Badir Yasin waved play on.

The next chance fell to Isaac Omweri in the 13th minute when he was fed by Mohammed Kilume on the right flank, but his attempt at goal was way off target.

Harambee Stars winger Boniface Muchiri had his moment in the 15th minute from a free kick, but he could not find the target.

The flurry of chances continued in the 18th minute when Staphord received a ball from Paul Okoth and took a strike on the volley, but it was way over the target.

The biggest chance fell to Staphord in the 21st minute, Kevin Musambai beat his marker before delivering an enticing cross that was met by a Staphord header, but his effort went inches over the bar with the match now a balanced affair.

The battle concentrated in midfield until the 32nd minute when Musambai, who had switched flanks with Muchiri, received a ball on the left wing, cut in to his favourite right foot before unleashing a curler that goalkeeper Kevin Ouru was happy to see go inches wide.

How Harambee Stars defender stands to benefit from arrival of new coach at French club

Mathare had another good chance in the 39th minute from a neatly taken free kick that troubled Sylvain Ricks, but he was quick enough to make amends before damage was caused.

From a neat exchange of passes in the 41st minute between Bill Okite and Paul Odhiambo, the latter took a shot that went straight into the arms of Ouru as the two teams went to the break with no goals scored.

Ulinzi returned to the second half sluggishly and got punished in the 48th minute when, from an Isaac Omweri corner, Ian Omondi at the back post returned the ball to play to find Adams Nyambane, who broke the deadlock.

Ulinzi almost replied immediately, but Muchiri, from a tight angle, saw his strike saved by Kevin Ouru.

In a bid to chase the game, Ulinzi made a double substitution, bringing on Telena Ochieng and Stephen Nyongesa for Musambai and Otunda.

The breakthrough for Ulinzi came in the 58th minute as Nyongesa lofted in a cross in the box that Paul Okoth rose high to guide to the back post and into the back of the net for an equaliser.

Why SDT has slammed brakes on FKF Premier League clash between Mara Sugar and Gor Mahia

The Slum Boys reacted to the equaliser by replacing Okoth and Nyambane with Elly Asieche and Brian Ochieng.

Mathare seemed to have been rattled by the goal and launched back-to-back attacks through Omweri and Paul Kinyanjui, but Ricks was present to make spectacular saves for the military outfit.

Asieche announced his presence in the 65th minute, calling Ricks to make a save from a strike off a long throw.

Ulinzi could have taken the lead in the 66th minute, but Muchiri’s free kick was saved by Ouru into play, causing a goal melee that was unfruitful.

From the 80th minute, Ulinzi went all out in a desperate search for a goal that came in the 85th minute when, from a missed clearance by Mathare, Staphord drove to the byline before bringing in a cross that was met by Paul Odhiambo inside the six-yard box to tap in to give the Soldiers the lead and send the stadium into a frenzy.

Ulinzi held on for their dear lives in the dying minutes to secure a win that took them to 15th on the log with 35 points.

KCB FC 0-1 Posta Rangers

KCB made it four games without a win after suffering a slender 0-1 loss to relegation-threatened Posta Rangers, who eased their fears of dropping to the National Super League (NSL).

Robert Matano's men went into the match low on confidence, having failed to taste victory in their three previous matches, including a semi-final loss to Tusker FC in the Mozzart Bet Cup.

The Bankers, who were ninth on the log, were therefore keen to soothe that agony with victory over Posta Rangers, who were 14th with 37 points and still in the relegation matrix.

Brian Yakhama’s strike in the 87th minute secured a 1-0 win for Posta that took them to 13th on the log with 40 points.