Keeper Odhoji heroics lift Ushuru over Sony Sugar

Keeper Odhoji heroics lift Ushuru over Sony Sugar

Ushuru FC started their second leg of the Kenya Premier League (KPL) with a narrow 2-1 victory where keeper Shaban Odhoji denied Sony Sugar’s Victor Ademba from the spot in the last minute to secure maximum points for the taxmen.

It was an end-to-end affair in the first half, but it was Sony who commanded proceedings in the second in an encounter where Rodgers Otieno and Kennedy Oduor struck for Ken Kenyatta’s side at Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Ushuru came close in the third minute with Maurice Odipo’s free-kick almost finding the back of the net, forcing Sony’s custodian Timothy Odhiambo to tip it out for a corner.

Three minutes later Sony responded; Juma Masoud’s header going slightly wide after connecting Justin Monda’s cross from the right.

Ushuru striker Roosevelt Blaty and Oduor combined well upfront, but an alert Odhiambo expertly thwarted the former’s powerful shot in the 12th.

Boniface Muchiri send his finish straight to Odhoji’s hands, before Blaty’s header flew over the bar on the opposite end three minutes later.

Ushuru’s top marksman; Otieno, broke the deadlock in the 29th with a clever free-kick that arrowed to the top corner beating Odhiambo who was off his line.

Oduor then doubled the advantage in the 35th before Sony could regroup from conceding the opener.

But back they came and just before the break, Amos Asembeka made no mistake from the spot sending Odhoji the wrong way after Masoud was fouled in the box as Ushuru went to the dressing room 2-1 to the good.

Coming from the break, Sony’s coach Salim Babu brought on Jeremiah Wanjiru for Wanjala as Ushuru rested Eric Mata for Heritier Luvualu.

Surprisingly, Luvualu would last on the pitch for only 10 minutes, Kenyatta withdrawing him for Evans Kiwanuka in bid to beef his defense.

Oyugi almost leveled matters in the 65th but his header from a corner went narrowly wide. Masoud then worked Odhoji two minutes later when the keeper punched his glancing header to keep the one goal lead.

Sony kept pressing for an equalizer as Ushuru reverted to rearguard action to maintain their slim advantage.

And the pressure almost paid off when Jackton Onjala handled the ball in the box, but referee Israel Mpaima turned down the sugar miller’s aggressive appeals for a penalty.

The game was set for a grandstand finish when Mpaima pointed to the spot after Josephat Oyugi was fouled in the box by Otieno to hand Sony the chance to nick the point they richly deserved.

But Odhoji had the last decisive hands when he saved Ademba’s effort smartly to give his side a bright start as they moved to the top 10, Sony remaining rooted in 12th.

Tags:

Kenyan Premier League football Ushuru FC Sony Sugar FC Shaban Odhoji

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