AFC Leopards edge past Nairobi United to reduce gap to leaders Gor Mahia

AFC Leopards reduced their deficit to leaders Gor Mahia to seven points after edging out Nairobi United 1-0 at the Nyayo National Stadium on Wednesday, 18 March.

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Ingwe, who over the weekend saw their gap to their arch-rivals balloon to double figures, pulled themselves back into the title picture, thanks to a solo strike from Samuel Ssenyonjo.

The much-maligned Ugandan forward was at the end of a well-constructed move by the hosts to find the net in the 12th minute, a goal that would end up settling the rescheduled fixture.

©Gad Isaac

Having hit some semblance of decent form heading into the game, Nairobi United were unfortunate to hit the crossbar in the first half, but labored to find a way past substitute keeper James Ssetuba, who was called up in the second half to replace the injured Humphrey Katasi.

Leopards, on the other hand, earned full marks for lifting themselves off the canvas, delivering a timely win despite missing both of their dependable center backs - Emmanuel Lwangu and Kayci Odhiambo.

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Ingwe’s 13th win of the season took their tally to 46 points, while Nairobi United, who also lost to Leopards in the first leg, saw their four-game unbeaten run halted, to remain ninth on 33 points.

Match Report

The immediate thought following AFC Leopards' 4-1 thrashing to Mathare United last weekend was that the wheels had started coming off Fred Ambani's side, and things got worse on Tuesday, when the club confirmed that two of their main actors in defense were due some time out with injuries.

Perhaps sensing an opportunity, Nairobi United's assistant coach jumped to offer his boys some encouraging words, while reminiding them of their 2-0 loss in the reverse tie.

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If only his side would have relied on that, as a hobbling Leopards pounced early, before grinding out a priceless win that will no doubt have served as music to the ears of their fanbase, who on this ocasion, failed to turn up in their overwheming numbers.

Three minutes was it took for Leopards to mount their first piece of attack, Ssenyonjo running across goal to whack his effort into a retreating Kepha Aswani.

The next time such an opportunity came his way, Ssenyonjo was on his knees in celebration, this after collecting a fine pass from Tyson Otieno to hesitate, then smash into the bottom corner.

The strike, his seventh of the season, laid a platform for Leopards to graft hard, as they on this day, lacked their usual flow, with star man Kelly Madada reduced to the bench.

A barrage of attacks from Nairobi United followed, with all of Lesley Otieno and Kevin Wangaya going close.

©Gad Isaac

Lennox Ogutu in the 39th minute thought he had pulled his side back into the game when he was found at the backpost by Wangaya, only for his right-footed attempt to come off the underside of the cross bar, with Katasi rooted in his spot.

Enock Machaka then came close four minutes later, but arrowed his shot wide off target, before Tyson struck the upright with the last action of the first half.

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The second period saw more domination from Nairobi United, who again peppered the Ingwe goal, but were futile in their attempts.

The quiet Benson Omalla in the 52nd minute could only head wide after being teed up by Wangaya, while Machaka smacked a rebound wide, despite being in a promising position to pick his spot.

©Gad Isaac

Katasi, after struggling with an apparent left lower-leg issue, was hooked off at the hour-mark, but even then, Naibois could not get their way past Ssetuba, who hurled himself around to save twice from substitute Dancan Omalla, and keep a valuable cleansheet.

The smiles from the AFC Leopards bench at full time told the whole story - given the circumstances, all that mattered was to win.