Ingwe Hit 10-Man Thika United To Go Second

AFC Leopards has edged out Thika United 2-1 in a Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clash on Sunday at Thika Sub-County Stadium.

Goals from Ghanaian forward Gilbert Fyamenyo and Whyvonne Isuza were enough to secure three points for AFC Leopards.

Ingwe came into the match aiming at collecting maximum points to move to the second position after managing to garner 10 points from the initial five matches of the league.

It was the hosts who showed intention of winning early on, trying to go for an opener in the fifth minute, as they won a free-kick taken by Eugene Mukangula, however it was cleared by the AFC Leopards defense.

AFC Leopards reacted by attacking more often, winning several corners that unfortunately bore no fruits as Thika United defenders cleared the dangers. The 12-times league champions increased the tempo which the hosts struggled to cope with; and they resorted to play cautiously.

A dominant AFC Leopards made their intentions clear early in the match after Whyvonne Isuza pressured the Thika United defense, forcing an error from Dennis Odhiambo who in turn released a feeble back pass but Isuza’s final shot did not trouble Eliud Emase in the Thika goal.

The hosts had their fair share of chances with Eugene Mukangula getting his first attempt on goal with a curling free-kick that did not trouble Ian in goal.

In the 37th minute, Gilbert Fiamenyo picked a pass from Isuza in the edge of the box, left several Thika United defenders for the dead before firing past Emase from a tight angle to send the match into the break with Ingwe in the driver’s seat.

Despite regular pressure from Ingwe, the hosts held on to ensure they do not concede more goals in the first half.

On resumption, a better looking Thika United side in a bid to restore parity piled pressure from the onset with Nigerian forward Chibueze Longinus making a solo run but the resultant shot went wide. Katerrega was at it again, dribbling on his favorite left foot before sending in a low cross that Isuza superbly slotted in with a full stretch for Leopards’ second in the 69th minute.

In a much balanced affair, a series of end to end attacks ensued with the hosts stringing beautiful passes with nothing to show for but Mzee Salim would try an ambitious shot from yards out which flew over the bar. Dancun Otieno could have added a third goal for Leopards late into the second stanza after playing nice give and go passes with Fyamenyo, but his shot went straight to the keeper.

Thika United were reduced to ten men after defender Christopher Oruchum was sent off with five minutes left on the clock after an infringement on Katerrega that earned him a second yellow.

However, that did not affect the team as Salim pulled one back for Thika deep into stoppage time with a fine shot that came from a melee inside the area.

The hosts' quest to clinch a point from the tie, piled pressure on the Leopards but their efforts did not yield fruit. Fyamenyo would have killed off the game minutes later with a thumping header from an in swinger from substitute Nyakha, his effort missing the target by a whisker.

The result means that AFC Leopards go second in the standings with 13 points. Thika United remains 14^th with 6 points.