AFC Leopards end Nairobi City Stars excellent run as Bidco put five past Talanta

AFC Leopards continued with their winning run in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) on Sunday after humbling pre-match favorites Nairobi City Stars.

Second half strikes from Maxwell Otieno and experienced veteran Anthony Kimani ensured Ingwe walked away with the three points in the match played at the Bukhungu Stadium as they bagged their third consecutive win for the first time this season.

The side which subjected their supporters to heart breaks in their first half of the 2023/2024 season had a good start to the game, causing constant trouble to the Nairobi City Stars defense. 

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AFC Leopards could have taken the lead in the 19th minute but Jaffari Owiti’s shot was not powerful enough to trouble City Stars Custodian Edwin Mukolwe. 

Five minutes later, Nairobi City Stars’ forward Vincent Owino unleashed a shot from outside the box but it hit an Ingwe player before bouncing out of the pitch for a corner. 

With four minutes remaining to the end of the first half, Owiti had another golden opportunity to hurt the visitors when he received a pinpoint pass from Bonface Munyendo but he fired agonizingly wide this time round.

Ingwe returned from the half time break firing from all cylinders and their hard work eventually paid off in the 47th minute when Otieno put the ball into the back of the net.

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After taking the lead, AFC Leopard players did not lose concentration and continued to launch several attacks on the City Stars’ defense with Hassan Beja picking up an injury in the process. 

Beja’s injury forced head coach Thomas Trucha to make a double substitution, replacing him and the goal scorer with Clifford Nyakeya and Victor Omune respectively. 

A few minutes later, misfortune struck again in Ingwe’s squad when skipper Cliffton Miheso limped off injured. 

Trucha made a genius change, introducing Kevin Kimani who did not take long before putting Ingwe 2-0 ahead. 

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The picture-perfect goal was made possible by Omune, who dribbled past Nairobi City Stars backline before placing the ball on Kimani’s path.

Ingwe could have had another goal in the added time through Nyakeya. However, City Stars’ captain Calvince Opollo made a tackle which saw him red carded. 

The unexpected win ensured AFC Leopards climbed up to position 11 in the FKFPL log with 24 points, 19 behind leaders Gor Mahia who opened a ten-point gap at the summit.

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In other matches, played on Sunday, Bidco United thrashed FC Talanta 5-3 while Police FC walloped Nzoia Sugar 2-0.

Chris Opondo scored a brace for Bidco with Eric Michubu, John Kelwish and Brian Mboya also finding themselves in the score sheet. Talanta’s goals came courtesy of Brian Wafula, Kevintom Michika and Alex Juma. 

South Sudan international Tito Okello scored all the two goals in the Police FC versus Nzoia Sugar clash to help the law enforcers’ increase their tally to 30 points. 

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