KPL to be decided in the last day after Leopards climb to the summit

By Fred Maingi

The Tusker Premier League(TPL) could be determined during the last day after third-placed  AFC Leopards  climbed to the  summit after defeating relegation bound Oserian 3-1 in a  thrilling match beamed live by pay television Supersport channel 9 east at Oserian grounds.

    AFC  Leopards are now tying  with defending Champions Tusker FC  on 53 points. The League standings is set to change hands on Sunday(today) when  Tusker face off with Gor Mahia in  the top clash touted as the title decider at the Nairobi City Stadium.

    It took 15 minutes before either team’s register a score. Ben Barasa struck home in the 8^th minute to put the Flower-men ahead, but their celebrations were cut-short with Mike Barasa’s brilliant equalizer in the 12^th minute.

Two minutes later, Bernard Mang'oli doubled the lead with a sterling free-kick before the hosts were reduced to ten-men, following the dismissal of skipper Franklin Osama for a second bookable offense in the 47th minute.

   In the 85th minute, a close range strike from veteran midfielder Charles Okwemba killed the game off, intensifying Oserian's relegation woes.

Leopards are now level on points [54] with league leaders Tusker, but edged out on goal superiority.

   A last minute header by Mathare United captain Anthony from Lloyd Wahome free kick saved his side from sharing the spoils with Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) in a thrilling Tusker premier League match (TPL) staged at the Nairobi City Stadium.

    It was a bitter pill to swallow for the Bankers who fought hard in the entire match but could not cope up with the pace in the dying minutes.

     The results put’s Mathare United on seventh  with 38 points while KCB is eleventh with 33 points, from 28 matches.

  In another match,Sofapaka hopes of finishing the Tusker Premier League (TPL) among the top three suffered a major setback after they were held to a 2-2 by visiting Sony Sugar   in an early kick off tie staged at the Nairobi City Stadium.

    The 2009 Champions took the lead barely after five minutes through former Mathare United left winger Joseph Nyaga who completed a nice cross from “old horse” John Barasa.

  The lead changed hands in the 44^th minute when the Sugar millers leveled the score through Ismail Dunga after controlling superbly Wycliffe Nyagechi’s cross before planting the ball home past David Okello in Sofapaka goal for a 1-1 tie before halftime.

  Towering Sofapaka midfielder Humphrey Mieno extended his team’s lead with the second goal after heading home George Owino’s cross. In the 60^th minute,Dunga raised  the bar  yet again when he  equalized from close range with a rasping shot.

  Sony Sugar coach Zedekiah ‘Zico”Otieno said he was happy that his players were able to absorb the pressure from the home team saying a  draw was a fair outcome.

    His Sofapaka counterpart Stewart Hall said he was not amused with the results since his  strikers have maintained the tradition of creating many chances and wasting all of them.He promised to  sharpen his attack in the remaining two matches.

    Sofapaka remains fourth with 45 points while Sony  climbed from position ten to ninth with 35 points. both have played 28 games.

  In other matches,Karuturi Spprts  were held to a barren draw by Nairobi City Stars at Oserian grounds .