AFC Leopards produce late comeback to condemn Shabana to third straight home loss

AFC Leopards produced a late comeback to make it two wins on the bounce after dispatching Shabana 2-1 at Gusii Stadium on Wednesday, 29 October.

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Hosts Shabana took an early lead when Austine Odongo struck in the 10th minute, only for a rejuvenated Ingwe side to dig deep into their bench and deliver a sucker punch in the second half.

Having threatened to fall to their first defeat of the season, Leopards summoned the services of club skipper Victor Omune and Julius Masaba shortly after the hour-mark to spark the turnaround.

The two combined moments after their introduction, with the former equalizing for the visitors with 18 minutes left to play.

The winner would come deep in regulation time, when winger James Kinyanjui forced an Shabana own goal with an 88th minute corner.

The comeback secured AFC Leopards their first league win over Shabana, with their only other head-to-head victory coming in the Mozzart Bet Cup in March last year.

Fortunately for Leopards coach Fred Ambani, a second win on the trot means his side are now fourth on the log with nine points, and surprisingly unbeaten so far this season, despite the clamour for his sacking.

Shabana, on the other hand, are now looking head first to the damning reality of three losses in a row at their famed home perch, a far cry to their fast start this season, which had seen them win their two opening matches in convincing fashion.

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Amid the early morning rains right in the middle of the week, the stage had been set for a big showdown in Kisii, bringing together two teams with massive following, and all keen to make statements.

Shabana, playing their third consecutive game at home, were looking to write off their disappointing losses to Posta Rangers and Mathare United, while slightly under-pressure Leopards were out to prove their first win of the season over KCB last weekend was not a blip.

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It was the hosts who seemed more hungry from the gates when they took a quick lead from a set-piece inside the first 10 minutes, and Leopards forced to chase.

Last weekend's hero Boniface Munyendo went close to grabbing a goal back for the vistors on two occasions, but saw his header fly over the bar, while his long-range effort was blocked for a corner.

Youngster Kelly Madada would later smash his effort wide to close out the half, but even with a deficit, it felt an equalizer was coming.

So it did midway through the second half, when two 64th minute substitutes combined to reel Ambani's side level, before the industrious Kinyanjui got rewarded when his corner was deflected into the net with only two minutes remaining.

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Shabana, often proud of playing at home, had nothing significant in reply.

Ingwe had proved their point, and going by their recent run of form, Shabana had too.