AFC Leopards bite the dust at Nyayo stadium as Thika United defeat Karuturidefe

By Fred Maingi in Nairobi

Kenya  premier League(KPL) leaders AFC leopards  suffered a
devastating 2-0 loss in the hands of stubborn Kenya Commercial
Bank(KCB) in a  thrilling tie marked with heavy drizzles at the Nyayo
National Stadium on Sunday,August 26.
  The loss meant that Leopards  dreams of opening a seven point at the
top of the league was put on hold.
The bankers   frustrated Leopards for the better part of the second
half   after two goals from Peter Wainaina and Paul Mungai Kiongera in
the first half had given the bankers ahead start.
  In the other match of the day,Thika United were made to struggle
before edging out Karuturi Fc with a solitary goal at Thika Municipal
Stadium.
  Clifton Miheso scored  the all important goal in the 85th minute to
sink  the visitors hopes of sharing the spoils.
Apparently, it was a bad day in office for AFC Leopards who squandered
several clear chances with the biggest culprits being Mike
Barasa,Edwin Wafula, and Victor Ochieng.
  Leopards forced 12 corner’s against their opponents three. They had
a goal disallowed in the dying minutes.
   Leopards who were missing central defender Eric   Masika and centre
forward Allan Wanga  were clearly shaky in the last third of the pitch
Leopards   spanned  two  chances which came their  way when   striker
Mike Barasa  saw  his effort  parried  by  the  bankers custodian
Kaleb Adola .Right  back  Edwin Wafula  also came close in the 3oth
minute  making dashing  run on the right flank to release a rasping
shot  which went off target.
Even after the breather, Leopards could not master the skills to break
the stubborn bankers.Leopards coach Jan  Koops made changess  resting
Bernard Mang’oli,Victor Ochieng and Burundi International  Floribert
Nyayisaba  and in a bid to inject more creativity  in his midfield, he
 brought in  Jimmy Bageya,Laurent Tumba   and Ammon   Muchiri  but the
new  blood injected   could do little to salvage a point.
By the last quarter of the game it was Leopards who laid siege at
their opponents  forcing corner after another with KCB players
resorting to wasting ti