Ulinzi gun down Homeboyz to win KPL Under 20

Ulinzi Warriors overcame favourites Kakamega Homeboyz 3-1 via post-match penalties to clinch the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Under 20 after both teams were deadlocked at 1-1 in regular time of a tightly contested final.

Frederick Ogot’s boys took a first half lead courtesy of a Moses Mwangi strike before Hassan Ng’ang’a restored parity in the second half.

Peter Owuor was given the marching orders in the dying minutes of the match to reduce Ulinzi to ten men but they held on before Salim Ali, Masinde and Alex Sunga’s converted penalties shot them to glory.

Homeboyz, who edged out Mathare United 1-0 in the semis, bow out with their heads held high after having not lost a single match in the competition.

Ulinzi were extremely physical, pressing their opponents from the first minute and allowing them little time on the ball.

Stephen Mueni had a goal disallowed after the offside flag went up against him at the quarter-hour mark as Ulinzi dominated the early minutes of the first half.

Homeboyz’ Bakari Juma played in Nicholas Musungu with a clever free-kick but the latter shot directly at custodian Francis Odemba from a completely unmarked position.

Ulinzi finally broke the deadlock in the 28th minute as Alex Sunga and skipper Ibrahim Shambi combined well to find Mwangi in the box, who dinked in a delicate loop over the keeper to put his side in the driving seat.

Odemba denied Gilbert Selebwa’s side a leveller with brilliant stop with three minutes of the first half remaining to keep his side’s lead before the break intact.

Sunga, arguably Ulinzi’s finest player of the competition, unleashed a fierce strike in the 66th minute that came off the post.

Ng’ang’a made no mistake on the other end, turning in a cross from Munyendo for the equalizer in the 77th minute.
Referee Tabitha Wambui sent off Ulinzi defender Peter Owuor for a second booking after recklessly crashing onto Homeboyz captain Faraj Ominde in the last minutes of regulation time.

There was little action in extra time with Ng’ang’a’s curling strike that edged past the frame of the goal the closest attempt on goal.

Ulinzi were awarded a trophy and Ksh500000 in prize money while Homeboyz took home Ksh300000. Second runners up Mathare walked away with Ksh100000.