Derby ends in draw: Leopards recover to hold Gor, Chemelil turn Sony Sugar bitter

AFC Leopards player Martin Imbalambala vies for the ball with Gor Mahia's Baba Kizito during their KPL match at the Nyayo National Stadium yesterday. The teams drew 2-2. [PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

AFC Leopards will claim the bragging rights for this year’s Kenyan derby after holding arch-rivals Gor Mahia 2-2 at Nyayo Staidum on Sunday.

Leopards had won the first leg 3-1 and will be delighted to have picked four points from the derby.
Gor Mahia goalkeeper Jerim Onyango was a man under siege after the match with fans baying for his blood for gifting Leopards the second goal in the 82nd minute.

Until then, Gor Mahia had all the three points under wraps but Onyango’s decision to come out of his line rather prematurely allowed Martin Imbalambala to equalise with a long range effort.

Gor Mahia coach Bobby Williamson was, however, quick to defend his goalkeeper for the gaff.
“He probably should not have come out. But we take responsibility as a team for the result. Moreover, he has done well for the team in the past,” he said.

Ugandan striker Dan Sserunkuma inspired Gor Mahia’s performance with a two-goal blitz that proved his scoring prowess every time he turns out against Leopards. His first was in the 42nd minute when he sneaked between defenders to head home the equaliser from a well taken corner kick by Godfrey Walusimbi.

It was Leopards who went ahead first at the half hour mark through Noah Wafula, who finished off from a well taken free kick by James Situma that had been flicked on by Austin Ikenna.

Sserunkuma’s second came early in the second half when he beat an off-side trap to tap home after the Leopards backline had failed to deal with a Musa Mohammed hard shot.

In Nyanza, a resurgent Chemelil Sugar whipped arch-rivals Sony Sugar 2-0 in a sugar derby threatened by a heavy downpour. Hosts Chemelil Sugar eager to atone for past two losses at home embarked on the encounter on a blistering note.

Chemelil Sugar’s efforts bore fruits in the 23rd minute with Hamisi Mwinyi rifling in the opener past Sony Sugar custodian Lukas Mamudeche, following a superb cross by sleight-footed striker Meshack Karani.

In the 40th minute, Karani free-kick was saved by Sony goalkeeper Mamudeche.
After the break, a heavy downpour threatened to disrupt the derby. Stephen Wakanya extended the lead for the hosts with a classical shot in the 86th minute.

At Thika Municipal Stadium, Thika United edged out Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) 1-0 continuing with their good run in the league.
Elsewhere, Tusker came from a goal down to share the spoils with Bandari after they settled for a 1-1 draw at the Mombasa County Stadium.

The match started on a high with both teams going for early goals but it was Bandari who had an opportunity through Kepha Aswani who dragged a golden chance to miss the opportunity in the second minute after the kick off.
Osborn Monday could have given Tusker the opener in the ninth minute but his feeble shot landed into custodian Wilson Oburu’s hands.

Aswani put Bandari ahead in the 17th minute after he was put through by Alloyce Mangi. With the hosts tiring in the final minutes, Andrew Tololwa netted the equaliser in the 88 minute.

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