AFC Leopards once again found themselves in a winless weekend in the FKF Premier League as they struggled from a goal down to secure a point in a 1-1 draw with Shabana at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos on Sunday 16 March.
Shabana FC had earlier communicated to their fanatics about the stands that they were to occupy as this was a flash forward to not taking matters security to chance and it came to pass as the game was halted with just 12 minutes in play.
Chaos seemed to erupt in one of the stands, forcing police to fire teargas, and it was only after a brief stoppage that the players, who had been led away from the field of play, resumed action.
Shabana took the lead in the 19th minute through Kevin Omundi Nyabuto. A Daris Msagha freekick deflected onto his path at the back post. The striker, once clear, hit his shot over the thigh of an advancing Opiyo, the ball tossed up and into the net.
Omundi ought to have doubled his side’s lead few minutes later, but he lost his footing when the enterprising Msagha found him again with a teasing cross from the left.
The hosts almost bounced back from Ovella Ochieng as he hammered a low freekick that was saved by Mulili at his near post. But a second attempt in the 44th minute produced the much needed goal, as Clifton Miheso cut into the box before laying off Ovella to sweep home via his weaker left boot.
Parity would be the name of the game in a frantic second-half that neither side took no control of.
Opiyo will in his sight count himself as the hero as he came up with a big stop from Austine Odongo in the dying minutes, extending his right arm to palm away a low header towards goal.
