Magonya late show denies Homeboyz in thriller

Isaac Swila

Veteran striker Allan Wanga converted a 74th minute penalty as Kakamega Homeboyz fended off a stiff challenge to draw 2-2with Sofapaka in a cagey Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clash at the Bukhungu Stadium.

Soter Kayumba handled under pressure in the box and Wanga being the calm head he is made no mistake as they completed a turnaround from a goal down to 2-1, only for Brian Magonya to strike in stoppage time to ensure for shared spoils.

Umaru Kasumba, the man who lit the Kenyan Premier League two seasons ago gave the visiting Sofapaka an unlikely lead in the 36th minute firing in Pistone Mutamba`s acute pass from down the right, to dent Homeboyz momentum, who until then had been dominant but Homeboyz levelled through substitute Ravel Maxwell 12 minutes after the restart.

The first real chance of the game came in the 10th minute from the run-of-play when Homeboyz winger Moses Mudavadi broke clear on the far right with a penetrating run but Sofapaka goalie Justin Ndikumana having read his motive, came out of his line to gather the cross before it could cause damage in the danger area.

Homeboyz came in the match placed ninth on 13points while Sofapaka, fifth on 23 points, were lagging behind Bandari on 28 points, Gor Mahia(26), Mathare(26) and Tusker(25).

Five minutes after the homeside sounded their warning, Mudavadi was at it again, this time rifling inches off target after being picked out by Ali Bhai.

The damage could have perhaps been felt had Bai released the ball much earlier but his dalliance made the recovering Sofapaka rearguard to put Mudavadi under immense pressure.

On the opposite end, Sofapaka defender Titus Echesa made a mockery of a dead-ball situation firing way way off the target.

Troublesome throughout the first half, Mudavadi put David Okoth through with a defence splitting pass in the 22nd minute only for the latter to be denied by the stretched palm of Sofapaka goalie Ndikumana.

The resulting corner drove the handful of Homeboyz fans on the edge of their seats as Sosthens Idah resultant header came off the woodwork with David Juma clearly beaten between the Sofapaka goalposts as the homeside launched an attack blitz.

After the break, Homeboyz changed tack, playing more with purpose and it was not long before Bai forced Sofapaka custodian to a full stretched save.

In a bid to change the tide of the game, new Homeboyz coach, Nicholas Muyoti, taking charge of his first match since being unveiled here summoned the fresh legs of Ravel Maxwell who watched in agony as his thunderous drive crashed on the upright with opposing goalie beaten.

A minute later he atoned for his earlier miss, this time scoring a scrappy one from a goalmouth melee in the 57th minute.