KPL: AFC, Mathare grind out wins

AFC Leopards beat visiting Wazito 1-0? on Saturday. [Courtesy]

AFC Leopards beat visiting Wazito 1-0 to register their first Kenya Premier League win thanks to John Makwatta’s penalty at Bukhungu Stadium yesterday to salvage a disappointing start to the 2019-2020 season.

In what was widely expected to be Wazito’s party regarding Ingwe’s dismal performance in their last two matches, Cassa Mbungo’s charges withstood a second-half onslaught from the visitors to earn their first three points of the season and climb to seventh with four points.

Leopards were awarded a 75th minute penalty after their new signing Makwatta went down inside the area and he did not disappoint afterwards slotting past Wazito’s Kevin Omondi for his first goal of the campaign.

Speaking after the match, Mbungo praised his charges for not giving up despite losing position to the opponents.

“We started the season very slowly after losing to Homeboyz and drawing against Sharks, results that were not very appealing to the fans and the team. Today we have however showed that we are a stronger side when we play well,” he said.

In Kisumu, Nzoia Sugar moved to third in the KPL standings after defeating hosts Kisumu All Stars 2-0 in a half packed Moi Stadium.

Leonard Kasembeli put the visitors ahead five minutes into the match before Boris Kwezi doubled the score two minutes after the restart to earn Collins Omondi his first win of the season.

The Blue Eagles dominated most of the game and head coach Henry Omino blamed the loss to missed chances and slow start to both halves of the match.

“We conceded an early goal that disoriented the team from the start. Despite dominating the opening half, we failed to utilize our goal scoring chances and the blow was done again from the restart. We need to improve as a team, we started the game very slowly but I believe we will be back stronger against Western Stima next weekend,” the former Stima coach said.

Kisumu dropped to 19th in the log after the loss with one point in three matches, with Omino yet to win at home.

In Machakos, Mathare United picked their first win of the season after edging out Ulinzi Stars 2-1 at Machakos Stadium on Saturday.

The match only came to life in the second half after a barren first half.

On resumption, George Omondi scored into his own net to hand Mathare United the lead in the 47th minute.

Daniel Waweru however got Ulinzi back into the match scoring with a free kick from 20 yards out and it looked like the two teams would share the spoils.

But a late header by Cliff Alwanga made all the difference for Mathare United who until yesterday remained winless in two matches with after picking two draws.