Mathare stunned by City Stars, Tusker blow Chemelil

Mathare United missed the chance to extend their lead at the summit of the SportPesa Premier League (SPL) after being stunned 2-0 by struggling Nairobi City Stars in Nairobi as title-chasing Bandari FC and Ulinzi Stars cancelled out each other in Mombasa 1-1 on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, Timothy Otieno, who earlier in the morning was feted as February’s SportPesa/SJAK Player of the Month, notched a fifth goal of the season to salvage a point for Posta Rangers in a 1-1 draw at home to basement side Sony Sugar in Ruaraka.

Muhoroni Sugar’s Wycliffe Ochomo also netted his fifth of the campaign but his side conceded a late winner to go down 2-1 to visiting Ushuru FC as Sofapaka’s woes intensified with a 1-0 loss at Western Stima.

Tusker FC who are chasing a first crown since 2012 were the biggest beneficiaries as the SPL resumed on Wednesday to climb to the top ahead of the late game between AFC Leopards and Kakamega Homeboyz after blasting Chemelil Sugar 3-0 on the road.

In the first of the televised double header at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium, Francis Kimanzi’s Mathare who came in as leaders were a solid bet for the three points against City Stars who started the day in 13th but at the end of the day, they were left licking a maiden defeat as the latter toasted a first victory of the season.

However, the Slum Boys were forced to chase the game when Ezekiel Omulo connected a cross from dangerous striker, Jimmy Bageya, to put City Stars the lead in the fifth minute after the Ugandan was put through on the flanks by a good pass from Yusuf Suf from midfield.

The 2008 champions spurned laid siege in their opponent’s box but had themselves to blame when Oscar Mbugua took advantage of a defensive lapse in the 64th to unleash an unstoppable cracker for the second and decisive strike for Stars.

“It was a hard game because after conceding an early goal, we were forced to chase the game for the big part. We missed chances until we conceded the second making it more difficult for us,” Kimanzi who led Mathare to their sole title in 2008, said after suffering his first loss of the season.

“We did not play to our best, we created fewer chances and I think City Stars deserve the win today because they created few chances but they were very effective in scoring. We must accept it that they did better than us offensively. Defensively, we were not intact as we usually are,” the former Harambee Stars, Sofapaka and Tusker FC boss rued.

“Great, elated, glory be to God! We got our chances and utilised them. Playing Mathare itself is a motivation, the boys followed instructions, we got out chances and utilised them,” his opposite number, John ‘Bobby’ Ogolla who was part of Gor Mahia’s unbeaten title winning side last season as an assistant hailed his first victory of the season.

“I told the boys, they are top and we are down, we should reduce that gap. Every game is different and the boys need to put their feet in the ground,” Ogolla added as he prepares to face Leopards in the next fixture in another daunting task.

-Shock lead-

The incredible away form of Tusker accounted for Chemelil with unanswered goals from Luis Khamadi (23rd), Stephen Owusu (42nd) and Michael Khamati (80th) lifting them to the summit.

Two rapid strikes in the space of three minutes settled the contest in Ruaraka with former Tusker striker, Robert Omunuk giving Sony a shock lead in the 16th before Otieno who took home Ksh100,000 for scooping the February MVP award replied in the 19th.

In Muhoroni, ageless midfielder, Charles Okwemba gave Ken Kenyatta’s Ushuru a 10th minute advantage before Ochomo, who was second in the award’s poll to get Ksh50,000 levelled in the 25th. The match was destined for a stalemate before the taxmen got the winning break in the 83rd through Dennis Wafula.

Francis Ocholla piled the woes of 2009 champions Sofapaka who slid to the bottom with a fifth loss on the bounce with a 37th minute winner for Western Stima.