Leopards finally skinned as Mathare return to the top

Mathare United put their midweek defeat behind them to beat Ushuru FC 1-0 to return to the summit of the SportPesa Premier League as Nairobi City Stars continued their giant slaying act by ending AFC Leopard’s unbeaten start to the season in a 1-0 victory on Sunday.

In the first game at Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium, Ushuru FC came into the match in fine form after drawing 2-2 against Tusker FC and beating Muhoroni Youth in their last two matches and the taxmen dominated the early minutes of the first half as they pushed for an opener.

Veteran midfielder Charles Okwemba thought he had put the hosts ahead, firing past Mathare keeper Robert Mboya with a powerful free header only for his effort to be ruled offside. The chances kept coming for both sides as the Slum Boys slowly grew into the match.

The deadlock was finally broken late into the first half after Ushuru’s Onjala handled the ball in his own box as the 2008 Kenyan Premier League champions pressed leaving the referee with no choice but to award the penalty which Obadiah Ndege slotted coolly sending the goalie the wrong way.

Ushuru should have equalized early in the first half but Roosevelt Blatty spurned a one on one with Mboya which the goalkeeper did well to block, with Azizi Okaka wasting the rebound.

Odipo almost levelled  in the dying minutes of the match but Mboya continued his impressive display with another spectacular secure all three points for Francis Kimanzi’s side that drew level with overnight leaders, Tusker FC and Leopards at the summit on 14 points apiece.

Ingwe missed the chance to open the gap at the top when they became the second high profile casualties of City Stars who stunned Mathare 2-0 on Wednesday skinned the Leopards in the second game at Nyayo.

Ivan Minnaert’s men suffered their first defeat of the season to slide down to third on goal difference.

Oscar Mbugua’s lone goal proved to be the all-important goal as Bobby Ogolla’s side earned their second league win of the season.

The Kawangware-based side were off to a flying start with Oliver Maloba directing a powerful header at goal that keeper Lucas Indeche could only parry out for a corner.

Ingwe continued to sustain a continuous series of attacks from the hosts orchestrated by the quick-footed Jimmy Bageya. The former Ingwe player fired a fierce low shot at Indeche but his effort was straight at the custodian, before his shot from outside the box was kept out by yet another brilliant save.

A wasteful Allan Kateregga was booed by his own fans for keeping the ball too long and squandering possession cheaply as both sides went into the break held at 0-0.

Leopards started the second half in a spirited fashion with the trident of Aswani Tololwa, Kateregga and Clifton Miheso spearheading numerous dangerous attacks that however failed to break a resolute Stars’ backline.

With Ingwe pushing for the opener, their defenders were caught napping in the 65th minute and Mbugua made no mistake finding the back of the net from a low shot, after Indeche’s clearance fell to his feet.

Minnaert brought Khalid Jumaan and the ever-impressive Lamine Diallo to replace Kateregga and Mwanzo but it was too late to rescue a point as Stars held on to claim all the three points.

Report by Jacob Icia and Matthews Mutai