FKFPL: Ulinzi lets lead slip to settle for a point with Bandari

Ulinzi Stars saw their two-game winning streak in the league halted, as they settled for 1-1 draw with visiting Bandari at Ulinzi Sports Complex on Sunday, 30 November.

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The hosts, shepherded by interim coach Stephen Ocholla, came in off the back of two big wins over Sofapaka and APS Bomet, but were stopped on their tracks after failing to see out a first half lead on the day.

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Ulinzi led after only 17 minutes when Masita Masuta took advantage of a crossed ball from Brian Birgen to finish past Levis Opiyo, only for Bandari to snatch a point in the second half through Darius Msagha.

The point for Ulinzi, albeit disappointing, took them up to seventh on the log on 13 points, while Bandari, now unbeaten in their last four, remained 11th with 12 points from 10 matches played.

Match Report

Buoyed by their recent purple-patch that saw them climb up the table from the relegation places, hosts Ulinzi started brightly, and should have found themselves in the lead after 10 minutes when in-form striker Paul Okoth struck inside the box, only for his strike to bounce inches wide.

Team skipper Boniface Muchiri was the next man to threaten for the soldiers three minutes later, but his freekick was clawed away by Opiyo, who also did well to deny Masuta wit the follow-up.

A few seconds later, Masuta would get the better of Opiyo, as he allowed Brigen’s ball bounce in front of him before lashing past the former AFC Leopards keeper at his near post.

The opener, rather than kick on the visitors, gave Ulinzi more belief, with both Talena Ochieng and Okoth going close for a second.

At halftime, Bandari posted their stats on social media, and they best illustrated their unambitious show: three total shots, two on target.

A similar Ulinzi barrage continued in the opening minutes of the second half, but for Muchiri to aim off target four minutes in, while Masuta saw his effort chalked off having strayed offside.

Bandari, almost punishing Ocholla’s side for failing to consolidate their lead, found the equalizer with a rare foray in the 59th minute.

The goal all came from a long punt from defense, which fell kindly for Msagha to slot home, having warded off Ulinzi last man Andrew Otunda.

Both sides, for the better part of the last half-hour, sparingly created enough scoring opportunities, and it was until the last minute of added time when Ulinzi looked prime to grab a late winner, only for Okoth to fluff a header in the face of a scrambling Opiyo.

Stalemate.