Mathare, Tusker make SPL summit tight

Mathare United and Tusker FC joined AFC Leopards at the top after winning their SportPesa Premier League matches on Saturday.

Leopards threw the challenge by coming from behind to beat basement side Sofapaka 2-1 at Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium in the earlier kick-off.

Mathare then sunk visiting Sony Sugar 1-0 at the same stadium while Tusker clawed Western Stima 2-1 in Kisumu to leave the three frontrunners deadlocked at 17 points.

Kakamega Homeboyz stopped City Stars 1-0 to bring them down to earth after stunning leaders Mathare and Leopards last week.

Kepha Aswani netted his fourth goal of the season to cancel Brian Nyikal’s first minute lead before Simon Abuko sealed the win 20 minutes to time to fire Leopards past Sofapaka.

Mathare then had to wait until the 87th minute to end the stubborn resistance mounted by Sony, through Derrick Onyango’s strike, his first of the league and season as Francis Kimanzi outfoxed his former assistant at Tusker FC, Leonard Odipo.

The end to end game was played under heavy downpour in the first 20 minutes as each side looked to get on to the score-sheet from the get go.

Boniface Muchiri should have given the sugar millers an early lead after racing into the box after cutting in smartly past veteran defender Noah Abich but he undid all the hard work by shooting directly at Mathare keeper Robert Mboya.

The Slum Boys responded through Obadiah Ndege who had his shot saved by Kevin Omondi in the Sony goal.

Fired by the support of the Leopards fans who were rallying behind them after watching Ingwe beat struggling Sofapaka in the earlier kick-off,  Odipo’s boys continued to threaten with Robert Omunuk and Victor Ademba coming close but Mboya proved his worth by denying them on both occasions.

In Kisumu,  Henry Omino’s boys went ahead in the 13 minute through Wesley Kemboi before Shafik Batambuze leveled seven minutes before the break.

In form Mike Khamati came from the bench to seal the win for the Brewers on the 67.

Ali Ahmed was the hero of the match with his 76 minute goal proving enough for Homeboyz to silence visiting Bobby Ogolla’s Stars.

Tusker and Mathare have a plus five goal difference for the top two while Leopards a goal shy in third.

Ulinzi and Bandari cap round the top five, five points below the joint leaders with before playing their weekend fixtures on Sunday.

Ulinzi will be visiting Posta Rangers, Thika United host Chamelil Sugar, Bandari play Muhoroni Youth away while champions Gor Mahia will seek a third win on the bounce when they face-off with Ushuru.