Sharks thrash Sofapaka as KCB bounces back to winning ways

Kariobangi Sharks moved up to second in the FKF Premier League standings after thrashing Sofapaka 3-0 at the Kasarani Annex on Sunday.

Boniface Onyango’s first half penalty and late second half goals from Forune Omotto and Felix Oluoch gave Sharks the massive victory, propelling them to 28 points in the standings.

Sharks had shown danger from the word go and had a chance earlier on when Eric Mmata did well to skip beyond keeper Fredrick Odhiambo on the byline from the right, but his effort at curling the ball into the net was thwarted by an off the line clearance by Dan Guya.

They broke the deadlock however when Onyango scored from the pot after Brandon Otieno brought down Julius Masaba inside the box.

In the second half, Sharks kept the fight and Omotto came close when his shot from inside the box after twisting and turning from his marker came off the crossbar.

Action between Sofapaka and Kariobangi Sharks

Sofapaka also upped the tempo, with crosses from either wing. Dan Guya and Otieno came close for Sofapaka but both their headers were saved by the keeper.

Late on after 84 minutes, Sharks got their second when Omotto made the most of an error by Geoffrey Ojunga to race on to the ball and slot beneath the keeper’s body.

Five minutes later, they completed the rout when Oluoch had the simplest of tasks to tap into an empty net after being picked out by a brilliant pass from Fredrick Alushula.

Meanwhile, KCB bounced back to winning ways, beating Posta Rangers 2-1 to move up to third in the standings. The two sides had played out to a draw last weekend, but the bankers did the most to pick maximum points.

Derrick Otanga scored the winner for KCB a minute to the break, making the most of an error from David Ochieng to slot home. Timothy Otieno had scored an equalizer for the mailmen, just after Henry Onyango had given KCB a 27^th minute lead.

Meanwhile in the Afande Derby at the ASK Showground in Nakuru, Ulinzi Stars wasted a glorious two-goal lead to concede two late goals from Kenya Police, ending the tie in a 2-2 stalemate.

John ‘Softie’ Ndirangu, a boy born and bred in Nakuru had come off the bench to rescue a point for the Police side. Musa Mohamed’s injury early in the game had put Police in a precarious position and it was only a matter of time before they conceded.

John Kago gave the military side the lead with a header from a corner before Mark Bikokwa doubled the tally with a loop over the goalkeeper and surely seemed to have won the game for them after 75 minutes.

However, Ndirangu came on to change the tide, halving the deficit after 88 minutes with a cool finish after turning away from his marker inside the box before scoring the equalizer with a superb volley to open wild scenes in Nakuru with a goal in the fifth minute of added time.

In other fixtures, the on-form Eugene Mukangula continued his scoring form with his fifth goal of the season as AFC Leopards once again came from behind to beat Mathare United 2-1 at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Eugene Mukangula celebrates his goal against Mathare United

It was a similar case to their meeting last week when once again, AFC had to come from a goal down to win 3-1.

This was Francis Xavier’s first match as Mathare’s coach, having picked up the job on interim basis following the sacking of Ezekiel Akwana.

Eugene Wethuli had broken the deadlock for Mathare with a fine finish inside the box off a pass from Daniel Otieno. However, Leopards roared back when Mukangula scored his fifth of the season.

After an hour, AFC completed their comeback when Nigerian import Fasanami Ojo scored after being picked out by a pass from Peter Thiong’o.