Stima find late spark to sink KCB

Teenager Benson ‘Omala’ Ochieng’ came off the bench to score a stoppage time winner as Western Stima put their best foot forward to raid KCB’s vault with a cherished 1-0 win at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu on Monday.

Missed chances had been the hallmark of the rescheduled Kenyan Premier League (KPL) match played under cloudy conditions before Ochieng took matters into his own hands with a neat dinked effort to crush the visitors’ hearts.

The victory moved the hosts just one place up the standings into ninth, level with the trio of Posta Rangers, Kakamega Homeboyz and Sofapaka FC on 17 points as KCB slid in the opposite direction just two points adrift.

At the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos, Wazito FC were forced to play with 10 men for the final 35 minutes after Karim Nzigiyimana was red carded in their barren draw with Kariobangi Sharks FC.

In Kisumu, Stima came off the blocks fastest with a flurry of chances, Hassan Kikoyo missing narrowly with only KCB goalie Joseph Okoth to beat but he failed to get his head onto an inviting cross from Villa Oromchan much to the chagrin of the home fans in the third minute.

Hassan came close again, this time in the 27th minute with a neat dinked effort but goalie Okoth read his intentions tipping the ball for a throw.

Heading into the tie at position six on 18 points, six shy of leaders Gor Mahia, the Bankers had hoped to go move upto third on 21points with a win in Kisumu but on this day they were second best agaisnt 10th placed Stima who have 15 points after today’s draw.

Stima despite not finding the back of the net bossed posession forcing KCB to build-up play from behind and their real meaninful chance of the first half came six minutes to the break when Ian Mutanda danced his way into Stima`s six-yard box; beating his markers with ease only to watch in utter disbelief as Stima goalkeeper Samuel Odhiambo dived to his right to thwart him for an unsuccessful corner.

KCB coach Zedekiah “Zico” Otieno elected to draft Kenya international Dennis Odhiambo at left back and his experience and composure showed though his lack of adventure in the enemy’s half limited the team’s attacking threat on the left channel while burly Enock Agwanda who has in the past turned out for Gor Mahia, SoNy Sugar and Sofapaka led the line but without much fanfare.

After the internal, Stima coach Salim Babu made changes bringing in Henry Onyango for Lucas Weitere while the wasteful Kikoyo also made way for Benson Ochieng.

The changes added some urgency of purpose in Stima`s attack and six minutes after the break, a patient build-up play from their half through the left wing yielded a point blank chance for Villa Oromchan but in his typical wastefulness, he fluffed the chance after the advancing Okoth enlarged himself to block his shot.

The conditions were ideal on the artifical turf following heavy downpour pounding the lakeside region, and as the game swung from end to end so did KCB show some ambition, skipper Mike Kibwage coming in handy with long range crosses but to no avail.

Zico then pulled out Ian Mutanda in the 57th minute for the fresh legs of Simon Munala, a tactical move that was aimed at unlocking the resolute Stima defence that refused to give way but the wait prolonged with no success.

KCB will however have goalkeeper Okoth to thank for keeping them in the game moreso in the second half as he twice denied substitute Ochieng – the first from a cleverly placed pass and the second, a fierce volley – both occasions Okoth coming out of his line to use his reliable arms as the last line of defence.