Mathare edge Muhoroni in bid to safeguard KPL status

Mathare United climbed further away from the danger zone after they defeated already-relegated Muhoroni Youth 2-1 in Saturday’s early Kenyan Premier League (KPL) fixture at the Ruaraka grounds.

Goals from Edward Seda and Cliff Nyakeya lifted Francis Kimanzi’s charges into 13th place on the KPL log with 38 points, as they collected their second successive win.

Maxwell Onyango scored the consolation for Muhoroni, whose relegation fate was sealed during the previous round following their 7-0 drubbing at Kariobangi Sharks, coupled with Thika United’s shock 1-0 triumph away at Tusker FC.

The hosts came into the match aware that a positive result would ease significant pressure off their backs and imposed themselves on the game with some brilliant pressing play.

Cliff Nyakeya was presented the opportunity to open the scoring in the 19th minute when he was teed up by John Mwangi but Jacob Faina and Robert Indimuli double-teamed to bully him out of play.

Chris Ochieng later broke clear on goal but Muhoroni custodian Juma Said exhibited great awareness to come off his lines and charge the striker down.

The hosts continued to enjoy the lion’s share of chances created but the breakthrough was not forthcoming as Ochieng, Nyakeya and John Mwangi failed to combine and make count a chance from a three- on -two situation.

The visitors, Muhoroni, had soaked 16 goals from their previous three matches but showed little signs of such defensive frailties  inside the opening 44 minutes and just as frustration was slowly beginning to grip Mathare, Seda found the opening.

It was a timely goal just before the break as the ball fell kindly to the midfielder inside the six-yard area after two of their attempts had been blocked and all he had to do was turn around and find the target.

He made a swift turn to his left and hit it low and hard and the keeper’s view blocked by a sea of bodies desperate to clear the ball he had no chance to save.

The 2008 league winners carried the slight advantage into the break but were pegged back just after the restart as Onyango hit a 51st minute reply.

Nyakeya should have restored his side’s lead following a long  run across the field and past the visiting defence only for his left foot strike to come of Said’s trailing feet for a lucky save.

Their setback did not last long as Seda turned creator, with Nyakeya turning in his low cross with an assured strike in the 56th minute.

Elijah Mwanzia wasted the chance to give his side a two-goal cushion when he misdirected his header from Ochieng’s cross on the left.  Mathare continued to press for a third but the visitors held on to keep it at 2-1.