Miheso marks return with goal as Sofapaka share points with Bidco United

Sofapaka saw their chance to climb out of the FKF Premier League relegation zone, slip through their fingers after conceding a late equalizer to settle for a 1-1 draw with fellow basement side Bidco United at Kasarani Annex on Friday, 9 January.

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Batoto Ba Mungu, for a moment, thought they had finally seized their opportunity of rising from their 17th place in the standings, when the returning Clifton Miheso buried an 80th minute penalty after Idris Amadi was adjudged to have handled inside the box.

That hope was however vanquished just three minutes later, when Bidco substitute Herman Ngala rose high to head in a timely equalizer, leaving both sides hovering around the relegation picture with nearly half the games played so far this season.

Amid the danger of going down, the only positive for either side was that the late flurry ended their respective runs without goals; Sofapaka nicking one after six games, and Bidco finding the net for the first time in five matches.

With the result, Sofapaka jumped a place over APS Bomet to 16th on 14 points, with Bidco United maintaining their 15th spot with a point more than their immediate opponents.

Match Report

With both sides enduring a horrid run of form, the afternoon fixture had all the makings of a crucial relegation six-pointer, with a win looking valuable to jump over multiple teams in a congested table.

It was Sofapaka, who ushered in the return of skipper Miheso after more than a decade out of the club, who were forced to brave the game's first real chance, as Francis Kamau stung Victor Kamungo's arms with an arrowed strike after only four minutes.

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Ezekiel Akwana's side ,however, got in the thick of things, and went close when their other new signing - Musa Ndusha - headed a Ronald Musumba cross wide in the 16th minute.

On the other end, Iddrisu Shaibu did well to block a lurking cross intended for Collins Akite, and Kamungo was once again called into action to save a Victor Kunyili header from the resulting corner.

Bidco, who gave former Gor Mahia midfielder Samuel Onyango his club debut, should have ended a frantic half ahead, but for Charles Junior to expertly block an attempt from Kunyili, who had done well to round Kamungo, and looked nailed-on to open the scoring.

©Gad Isaac

Sofapaka kept probing after the break through the enterprising Musa and Japhteth Mzungu, but it was through a rather fortunate call in the 79th minute by the referee that they took the lead.

The decision came after debutant Meshack Ochieno had rifled a ball straight into the arm of Amadi just inside the box, despite the Bidco defender's hand touching the ground as he fell.

Miheso, with the armband on, stood up to send the spotkick past Issa Emuria, who had dived in the right direction.

©Gad Isaac

At that point, Sofapaka looked on course for their first win since 10 November, but Anthony Akhulia's men had other ideas, as Ngala headed home a lovely cross from Kamau in the 83rd minute, ending the club's long-wait for a goal.

Sofapaka still had a chance to win the game late on, but Emuria tipped over a fine header from Musa, forcing both sides to take reprieve in finding the net for the first time in a long while, but well disappointed with their position on the table.

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