Mwana winner keeps Bandari in hunt for KPL

Yema Mwana struck the winner as Bandari FC made it three Kenyan Premier League (KPL) wins on the bounce with a 2-1 victory over Western Stima at the Kericho Green Stadium on Sunday.

Mwana’s superb second half finish completed Bandari’s comeback after Adachi Malik had struck for the hosts and Brian Otieno had equalised for Bernard Mwalala’s charges.

Bandari were also reduced to ten men six minutes from time after Fred Nkata received his marching orders for a second bookable offence but the visitors did just enough to keep Stima out and secure all three points.

Elsewhere one-time KPL champions Sofapaka FC left it late as they dispatched a disciplined KCB side 1-0 at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.

The game was evenly poised and seemingly headed for a barren stalemate until the fourth minute of stoppage time when KCB skipper Michael Kibwage whacked Eli Asieche in the area, the referee pointing to the spot.

Uganda international Umaru Kasumba stepped forward to calmly slot home to take his season tally to 10 and give the visitors a 1-0 win in what seemed like a replay of the first leg last month, at the same venue, when such was the script.

The 12th win of the season has Batoto Ba Mungu second on 44 points, same as leaders Gor Mahia who have played four games less and boast of a superior goal difference as ‘The Bankers’ who suffered their eighth loss of the season lie ninth on 29 points.

Whyvone Isuzza has eclipsed both Allan Wanga and Bernard Mang’oli goal to AFC Leopards all-time top scorer in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL), barely two years after joining the club.

The midfielder’s third-minute strike against Sony Sugar in an abandoned match at the Awendo Green Stadium, saw him take his Leopard’s KPL tally to 20 goals, surpassing the pair’s tally of 19 each.

The match was however abandoned in the 64th minute due to heavy rains that rendered the pitch unplayable, at least until tomorrow morning, when the showdown is expected to resume.

In another match of the afternoon, veteran striker Allan Wanga tightened his grip atop the goal scoring charts scored the solitary goal in the 37th minute in their 1-0 win over hosts Vihiga United at the Bukhungu Stadium.

The match which handed Wanga a 12th strike of the season saw his 10th minute spot kick parried away by host custodian after Edmond Mauda had fouled Peter Thiong’o in the box.

Nicholas Muyoti’s boys who have registered their fourth win in five matches, leapfrog Mathare United to fourth on 37 points after the Slumboys were hammered 2-0 by Ulinzi Stars at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru.

Vihiga who are stuck in relegation quagmire are third from bottom on 20 points from 23 rounds, losing the last three, without registering a single goal.

In the biggest win of the weekend, basement side Mount Kenya United let in four goals in 14 minutes as they suffered a humbling 6-2 defeat against fellow relegation candidates Posta Rangers.

Melis Medo’s men have the leakiest defence in the league having conceded a whopping 54 goals from 22 matches, and lie nine points from safety even as the American tactician remains defiant.

Collated KPL Round 23 Results

KCB 0-1 Sofapaka (Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos)

Posta Rangers 6-2 Mount Kenya United (Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos)

Sony Sugar 0-1 AFC Leopards (Awendo Green Stadium, Suspended 64th minute)

Vihiga United 0-1 Kakamega Homeboyz (Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega)

Ulinzi Stars 2-0 Mathare United (Afraha Stadium, Nakuru)

Western Stima 1-2 Bandari (Green Stadium, Kericho)

Kariobangi Sharks 0-2 Tusker (MISC Kasarani)

Chemelil Sugar 2-0 Zoo Kericho (Chemelil Sports Complex)