Mike Khamati enjoyed sizzling form on his birthday as he netted a brace for AFC Leopards which humiliated visiting Sony Sugar 5-1 in a thrilling match played on Labour Day afternoon at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Leopards started the match on a high and managed to attack consistently from the onset. Their efforts were rewarded in the seventh minute after Khamati volleyed in from a Noah Wafula cross from the right. Sony Sugar, however, responded immediately with Andrew Sekayombya also volleying in from close range from a Samuel Onyango cross on the right after a counter attack.
Matters got complicated for Sony after 10 minutesas when Leopards took control of the match in the midfield with Ugandan Musa Mudde, Mike Khamati and Noah Wafula turning too skillful and feeding Jacob Keli in attack. Arthur Weyula should however have leveled matters in the 17th minute as he sent in a thunderbolt from outside the 18 yard box buy Kasaya was quick to react and clear the danger.
Mang’oli’s freekick was then parried over the bar by Lucas Indeche who had a chance to start in the match before Shikokoti reclaimed AFC Leopards’ lead with a classical header from an Abdalla Juma corner in the 24th minute.
Things fall apart
Ingwe continued to press and dominate in the match with Shikokoti again missing after being found in an offside position in the 30th minute. Wafula however made up for the miss with a clever chip over Indeche in the 32nd minute to make it 3-1 for AFC.
Khamati, Mang’oli and Edwin Wafula all blasted their efforts wide as Leopards dominated into the halftime mark with the latter’s stinging shot from midfield being punched off for a corner by Indeche in the 43rd minute.
The second half was no better for the Sugar Millers as the Leopards returned better prepoered to add on to their tally despite coach Zico injecting talent through Marwa Chamberi.
Missed chances
Khamati should have capitalied on a counter attack in the 55th minute but he stumbled amidst pressure from the Sony defenders. He got his efforts paid for two minute later after he headed in from a Noah Wafula cross.
The birthday boy’s header then bounced off the woodwork five minutes later though the linesman had already raised the offside flag. Duncan Otieno and Ezekiel Seda produced a spark moments after being introduced in the 70th and 73rd minutes respectively with the latter setting up Keli to smash home the fifth for Leopards.
Sony substitute Amos Asembeka who netted his first season goal against Mathare United two weeks ago then had a great chance as he dribbled towards goal but shot wide in the 87th minute.
AFC Leopards had to play the final four minutes with a man less after Jacob Keli suffered a muscle strain and was escorted off from his 87th minute attempted thunderbolt.
Mang’oli seems to have snatched a sixth for AFC Leopards from a free kick that bounced off the upper post and was judged to have crossed the line but the referee ruled against Leopards. Leopards now move to the fourth place on the KPL standings from the convincing win.
(FUTAA.COM)
Leave a comment