- KCB beat AFC Leopards 1-0
- Posta Rangers thrashed Police FC 3-0
- More matches are scheduled for Saturday
KCB FC started their season in style, beating 10-man AFC Leopards 1-0 at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani. Derrick Otanga came off the bench to score the winner in the 82nd minute, while Leopards were reduced to 10 men after midfielder Musa Oundo was sent off three minutes to full time for a second yellow card.
KCB’s new coach Bernard Mwalala was elated with the result, but says there’s plenty more to work on moving forward.
“I am delighted we got our first win of the season in the first game. Not because we beat Leopards. We wanted to start well and this is what gives me joy. We now have a place to start from and the aim is to continue improving,” the tactician said after the game.
His opposite number Tom Juma rued missed chances saying his side was punished for one defensive mistakes.
“We had the chances to score. Nearly three open chances were missed and we were punished. In football if you don’t score, you don’t win. We conceded a very cheap goal just because of lack of communication at the back. We will work to try and improve on what we have seen today,” the former Kenyan international said.
Tight game from the start
Nashon Alembi tackles AFC leooards striker Jaffary Owiti
The game had been tight from the start, with few scoring chances. While KCB was playing their first game of the season, Leopards were on the second, having kicked off their campaign with a 0-0 draw with FC Talanta.
It was KCB who were brighter infront of goal mostly. Apollo Otieno had seen his long range effort deflected for a corner for KCB while Stephen Etyang also had a curling effort plucked behind by keeper Humphrey Katasi.
On the other end, Jaffary Owiti should have opened the scoring off a quick counter but he lifted the ball over with only the keeper to beat. Kevin Kimani also had a good chance when he broke into the box, but he easily came tumbling down from a meek challenge and calls for a penalty were ignored by the referee.
Leopards had to make a change at the stroke of halftime, with keeper Katasi coming off with a suspected hamstring and replaced by Maxwell Mulili.
In the second half, Leopards started faster off the blocks and the soft underbelly of poor finishing was laid bare again when Kimani laid an enticing cross into the area, but none was there to finish with the keeper acres off his line.
Changes bear fruits for KCB
Jaffary Owiti takes a strike at goal for AFC Leopards
KCB made changes with Derrick Otanga, Musa Masika, Nicholas Kipkurui and John Mwangi coming in for a fresh forward line.
Two substitutes would combine for the winning goal when Masika floated in a corner and with the Leopards backline struggling to clear, Otanga was at hand to thump the ball home from close range.
Leopards’ fight to get back into the game was dented when midfielder Oundo was sent off for a second yellow, and this allowed KCB numerical advantage to see off the game.
Elsewhere in other matches played Friday afternoon, Posta Rangers stunned a star-studded Kenya Police FC 3-0 while at the Kasarani Annex, visiting Bandari picked a win on the road with a 1-0 victory over Sofapaka.
In other matches, Shabana picked their first top flight point in a 1-1 draw with FC Talanta while away in Muhoroni, hosts Muhoroni Youth played to a similar scoreline with Nzoia Sugar.
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