KPL Under-20: Sony Sugar, Ulinzi Stars reach quarters

Sony Sugar thrashed Bandari 4-1 as Ulinzi Stars gunned down Ushuru FC 3-0 to book quarter final places in the ongoing Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Under-20 tournament.

Sony’s Pascal Otieno and Ibrahim Mohamed each grabbed braces to ensure the Millers progressed from the highly competitive group in a thrilling match played at the Camp Toyoyo grounds on Thursday, April 21.

Sony and Bandari were brave going forward with former commanding more of the proceeds in early stages of the first half, coming close in the eighth minute through Felix Ochieng’s free kick from outside the box that curved just wide.

The opening goal finally came barely a minute later after some neat exchanges between Sony’s players near the opponent’s area before Otieno jumped over a challenge from Shaffi Sudi’s and rolled a low shot into the back of the net.

Bandaris’s goalkeeper, Said Alele, was alert to keep out a quick-fire of shots as the Dockers struggled to clear their lines.

Otieno nearly doubled his side’s lead in the 21^st minute but blazed his shot over the bar. Issa Kassim’s boys handed their opponents a two-goal cushion just before the break, as Mohamed sent a screamer past a flat-footed Alele.

Mohamed hit his second of the afternoon just five minutes after the break as his side continued to hunt for a superior goal difference that looked certain to determine which team progressed.

Otieno hammered in the fourth in the 80th minute as Chrispine Otieno scored an own goal in the dying minutes of the match to gift Bandari a consolation goal.

Ulinzi and Sony join Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards, Mathare United, Chemelil Sugar and Kakamega Homeboyz who were earlier qualifiers for the Sunday (24) and Monday (25) quarter final matches.