Leopards top as Aswani double seals Cataluhya win

A second half Kepha Aswani brace spared AFC Leopards’ skins as they sealed a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Kakamega Homeboyz to carry the bragging rights of the western region with the added bonus of taking sole command of the SportPesa Premier League table.

Dubbed on social media as the ‘Cataluhya’ derby, Homeboyz were on course to inflict a first defeat in a classic rendition of the Biblical David vs Goliath when Chally Momai beat a forest of Ingwe defenders before unleashing a poweful drive past Lucas Indeche in the seventh minute.

After going to the break trailing , Ivan Minnaert’s Leopards emerged from the dressing room with their claws sharpened and Aswani brought them level with a bullet header from a free-kick in the 56th before the former Thika United forward sealed victory by capitalising on defensive disarray by Homeboyz to tuck in the winner in the 75th.

The 13-time domestic champions moved top on 14 points after six rounds, jumping a point above Tusker who held the lead for two hours after their 3-0 thumping of Chemelil.

Minnaert was elated to win a match that was closely fought and was quick to assert the team is at the top to stay.

On the other hand, Homeboyz skipper, Martin Imbalambala who also captained AFC last season, said his side had an opportunity to bag three points but the crowd intimidated them.

Imbalambala, who was playing against Ingwe had to endure a cold reception from the fans which he says is expected and had nothing to do with his output.

His coach, Peter Okidi, was of the same opinion that they had a better chances but lost through lapses of concentration in the second half as he shifted focus to the next assignment against champions Gor Mahia.

The game started at a high tempo, with box to box runs in the first 10 minutes as both sides threatened and opening with the first real opportunity falling to Aswani who wasted a guilt edged chance in the box with only goalkeeper Philip Odhiambo to beat in the fifth.

Soon, Andrew Kulecho responded for the newly promoted side, shooting wide from outside the box, before Victor Omune ran up-field to the opposite goal only to undo his good work by firing feebly at Odhiambo.

Omune threatened Homeboyz again in the 19th after combining well with Clifton Miheso into the box, before Andrew Tololwa was stopped by Sandy Matuko as he sought to break the deadlock.

With both sides engaging in hard-tackling, Ingwe fans on the stands shouted for the referee to flush out a card against perceived rough house treatment their players were getting but the stayed in the pocket.

The physical game forced Minnaert to withdraw Andrew Diego for Yusuf Juma in the 30th after the Leopards player fell injured after a meaty challenge.

Tololwa then worked Odhiambo who punched his effort out after a tricky chip into the box put him through for a fruitless corner.

After Homeboyz wrestled the initiative in midfield through the tireless Athman Buki, the Belgian Leopards boss hauled off the ineffectual Ongoma and brought on the attack-minded Allan Katerrega.

Even before Katerrega settled into the hot duel, Homeboyz almost scored with Moses Mudavadi racing in on the right flank to send a cross into the box that was inches wide from being turned in by his onrushing teammates.

On resumption, Homeboyz rested Mike Khatuli and brought on former Harambee Stars winger, Patrick Oboya, in an attempt to ignite the pace in the flanks.

In the 54th, Leopards who were pressing for the equaliser earned a free-kick when former Bandari midfielder Buki was booked for fouling Katerrega in denying him a clean get away.

From it, Aswani punished Homeboyz with a clinical finish to level matters and give his team the initiative to press for the lead they duly got when he notched his brace when their opponents got mired in their own defense to leave him with the space to lash on and plunge in the winner.

Minnaert then brought on Khalid Jumaan for Edmond Mauda to lock out the game and his opposite number responded by bringing off Hamedi Alli for an extra attacker in Andrew Munga.

In the dying minutes of the game, Ingwe retreated and were almost punished for their defensive tactics but Indeche stood tall in goal with a string of saves and some sprinkling of time wasting.

The final whistle was the cue for Leopards fans to go bananas and they poured out of Nyayo in full song, forcing traffic along the busy Uhuru Highway to grind to a halt as they made their way to the CBD in a cacophony of noise.

After watching arch-rivals Gor who are stuck in 13th place win the title three years in a row, belief is coursing through the Den that this could be the year when the SPL trophy’s ribbons are white and blue.