Mathare, Rangers draw blanks in forgettable KPL clash

Mathare United and Posta Rangers drew blanks in a tepid 0-0 draw in a forgettable Kenyan Premier League (KPL) encounter on Sunday at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.

The contest saw little in attacking enterprise in what was a bad advertisement of the domestic top flight as Mathare jumped above Ulinzi Stars to fourth on 38 with Rangers also moving up a notch to sixth, a point adrift, following the snooze fest.

“We had a good game and I’m not disappointed by the result. We showed great quality on the ball and given the changes I made to the squad it was impressive how they started the game. This is football so sometimes you have to be satisfied with the result you get,” Kimanzi told Citizen Digital after the match.

“We missed clear chances in the first 10 minutes and if you don’t take those you don’t win. We have already achieved what we wanted this season and that is to reach the 32-point mark. For now we just want to move at our own pace and see how much higher we can finish,” his opposite number, Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno remarked.

While the visitors looked comfortable sitting behind the ball and letting the 2010 champions dominate possession, the Slum Boys showed more eagerness to go forward but created only half chances with their star midfielder Eric Johanna suffocated throughout the game.

Rangers were the first to get a shot on target after Timothy Otieno pounced onto cross from the right delivered by Calvin Odongo in the ninth minute but Mathare’s shot stopper, Robert Mboya was equal to the effort.

Ten minutes later, Mathare midfielder, Daniel Mwaura, drove his shot against the side-netting after crisp interplay between Whyvonne Isuza and Derick Onyango.

Rangers’ goalkeeper was once again called to action three minutes later as Crispin Onyango sent a low drive on goal but the keeper- whose penalty heroics just over a week ago lifted his side over Ushuru FC in the GOtv Shield Cup – calmly picked it up.

Marshalled by skipper, Jockins Atudo, the visitors’ defence remained resolute to see out the first half as both sides went into the break deadlocked at 0-0.

Minutes after the restart, Gershon Likono was brought on in place of former Thika United winger, John Nairuka as Rangers coach, Zico attempted to find some attacking impetus in the battle of the former Harambee Stars coaches.

The pacey winger made his presence felt, sending a fierce free-kick that was only just tipped over by Mboya for a corner in the 70th.

Midfielder Alphonce Ndonye wasted the game’s best chance in the 77th after Rangers keeper, Patrick Matasi misjudged Oduor’s overhead kick across the face of the goal that fell in his path but he headed just wide.

Six minutes later, Johanna chested down a mispass from Rangers’ defender, Collins Omondi, and raced towards goal but took too long to execute a finish allowing defenders to disarm him.

The midfielder was at the thick of it just three minutes later, winning a free-kick just at the edge of the box. However, Matasi once again claimed the resulting shot.

Simon Mbugua got in the way of David Mwangi’s dangerous cut-back in the 92nd as as the visitors sealed a valuable point that sees them draw level with Chemelil on points (37).