Shabana FC squared it off by beating Sofapaka FC by a solitary goal at the Dandora Stadium. The Kisii-based club revenged by the same goal margin as they had lost to Batoto Ba Mungu by one goal at Gusii Stadium in Kisii. Shabana now moves into the top four.
Sofapaka FC Starting XI; Evans Omondi(GK), Baron Ochieng, Deric Mwanzi, Victor Odhiambo, John Otieno, Donate Okello, Jack Onganya, Humphey Mieno(c), Wayne Dalvine, Edward Omondi, Lloyd Muyonga Substitutes; Victor Augo, Nick Mabuka, Finlay Osoro, Meshack Odiambo, Benjamin Murimi, Joseph Kuloba, Bramwel Simiyu, Rodgers Kipkemoi, Vinedine Ambesa
Shabana FC Starting XI; Maxwell Mulili(GK), Elvis Ochieng, Dimpol Omamo, Mark Okola, George Onyango, Sam Kintu, Ezekiah Omuri, Justine Omwando, Darius Msagha, Brian Michira, Kevin Omondi Substitutes; Fredrick Otinda, Emmanuel Lwangu, Brian Bett, Brian Marvin, Shem Odinga, Dennis Okoth, Austine Odongo, Samuel Maiko
The match started with tension from both teams as they worked on settling down early or rather getting an early goal. Batoto Ba Mungu came close to scoring an opening goal in the third minute as they over-exchanged passes in the visitor’s box. Captain Humphrey Mieno then set up Lloyd Muyonga who was instead ruled out for offside. Shabana survived this attack by a whisker as it could have landed them in the same trouble they found themselves in while at home as they conceded in the fourth minute, a goal Sofapaka defended to the final whistle.
In the 10th minute, Sofapaka earned themselves a foul on the left edge of the box as Lloyd again dribbled well past a Shabana defender who in return was left with the option of fouling him. Wayne Dalvine curved it well on his left foot but goalkeeper Maxwell Mulili was not troubled as he carefully punched it away.
Former Sofapaka hit-man returned to haunt his former side as he engineered a move that would later turn into a goal in the 25th minute. He passed the ball to Kevin Omondi who delivered a well-articulated cross inside the box, Brian Michira flipped high with an acrobatic kick which would have resulted in a goal but his timing was not perfect as he missed the ball. Coach Ezekiel Akwana was not going to escape this as Ezekiah Omuri who was waiting on the left side of the box controlled the ball on a superb first touch and let it a semi-volley that hit the post on its way into the back of the net.
The goal was what hundreds of Shabana fans were waiting for as it took ablaze the whole stadium. Sofapaka almost answered back in the 40th minute as a long throw-in from Baron Ochieng was flicked by John Otieno into the net but again Mulili rose to action and punched away. Shabana almost doubled up the scores in the 2nd minute of added time as a Brian Michira free-kick was deflected into the legs of Mark Okola who tapped into the net but the referee called it back for a foul against the goal keeper.
Sofapaka came oozing fire in the second half hurling all forms of attack to the Peter Okidi-coached side. Lack of creativity and clinical composure denied them early second-half goals as their shots failed to hit the target. In what seemed to be the equalizer in the 56th minute, Edward Omondi dribbled on footwork past Dimpol Omamo and laid a low cross to Humphrey Mieno who was in the best position to score but the captain took the shot over the bar.
With an end-to-end action, Ezekiah Omuri again came close to scoring his second of the match but his well-taken shot went straight into the hands of Evans Omondi. Immediately on transition Baron Ochieng with a split pass to Edward Omondi who scored before he scored as we articulately beat the keeper but his shot at goal was saved by a Shabana defender for a corner kick.
In the 72nd minute Darius Msagha again almost scored against his former employer as he was well in by Brian Michira but he hurriedly took a shot that went over the bar. A minute later, he again on a solo effort let out a shot on his left foot but the keeper saved it away for a corner kick. In what was a field day for Shabana, they took Sofapaka by the horns driving them back and forth at a terrible speed. Leaving them no minute to breathe, Brian Michira again let in a low-lying shot that beat Evans Otieno but the post came to his salvation.
The second lived to be an electric football moment seeing end-to-end action from both teams. The moments could not allow the fans to sit down as chants were heard within every minute. The moments only lacked goals to live up to its satisfaction. The last action of the match came in the 93rd minute as a well-let-in Baron Ochieng corner kick was directed to the goal by a free header from Humphrey Mieno but the skipper missed the target by inches.
The win takes Shabana FC to fourth position on the log while Sofapaka FC sinks to 8th. Watch the post-match press here; https://youtu.be/L3XiAgJ5XEs?si=Ut5uKjs1kZrCCoBU
BANDARI FC 1-0 NAIROBI CITY STARS
KARIOBANGI SHARKS 1-1 BIDCO UNITED
KAKAMEGA HOMEBOYZ 0-0 GOR MAHIA
MARA SUGAR 0-1 KENYA POLICE FC
