Gor to go top as Leopards hold Tusker

Champions Gor Mahia finished the first leg of the 2016 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) where they ended the last -on top of the standings- after a dramatic day of midweek action on Wednesday.

K’Ogalo have thus completed a remarkable turnaround from 12th place after four rounds to the summit after sinking  bottom-side Sofapaka FC 2-0 where Khalid Aucho scored the opener in the fifth minute before field captain, Musa Mohammed sealed the win in the 35th at Moi Stadium Kisumu in a result that took them to 29 points.

The titleholders who are chasing history as the first team to hold on to the crown for four seasons in a row were given a helping hand by their Mashemeji (In-laws) AFC Leopards who held Tusker FC to a 2-2 draw to leave K’Ogalo top on goal difference.

Ekaliana Ndolo salvaged a point for the Brewers at the death when he levelled a pulsating game in stoppage time after Allan Katerrega’s 89th minute strike seemed to have secured limping Ingwe a big victory to revive their season.

Youngster Arnold Kemboi opened the scoring for Leopards in the 44th before Shafik Batambuze hauled the teams level from the spot in the 65th  to leave Tusker also on 29 in second as Ingwe inched to 20 and moved up to sixth.

It was K’Ogalo’s sixth win on the trot as the 15-time champions charged from going the opening five games without victory to the most prolific side in the division.

Defeat left the cash-strapped 2009 champions; Sofapaka who were KPL’s glamour boys in their heyday staring at relegation having taken only seven from a possible 45.

Coach Marcello ‘Ze Maria’ Ferreira’s winners should have registered more, but club top scorer, Jacques Tuyisenge and Godfrey Walusimbi spurned opportunities from close range.

Seeking a first win since April 19 when they beat the seemingly doomed Batoto ba Mungu 2-1, Ingwe’s coach Ivan Jacky Minnaert restored confidence in Ugandan striker Kateregga who was left out of the squad last weekend.

Vice-captain Lucas Indeche was for the first time dropped from the first team paving way for youthful Edwin Mukolwe between the posts.

Striker Michael Khamati faced his former side for the first time this season, alongside other four players in Nkata’s squad who have previously played at the Den.

After finding the lead through Kemboi who hit his first this season, Leopards lead erased when defender Ramathan Yakubu handled the ball in the box and Batambuze made no mistake from the spot before Katerrega netted one minute from stoppage to put the former league leaders on the verge of a seismic result.

However, Ingwe were once again let down by slapstick defending, their Achilles heel this season as Tusker punished them once play resumed.

Tusker will wait to see how Mathare United and Ulinzi Stars will fare on Thursday to know whether they will secure second position.