NSL: Malo grabs hat-trick as FC Talanta inflict dent on Fortune Sacco's promotion hopes
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Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 22.05.26. | 19:33
Friday’s result is certainly welcome news for 3K FC, Mombasa United and Migori Youth, who are all in contention for automatic promotion
FC Talanta continued with their impressive resurgence in the National Super League (NSL) after edging Fortune Sacco 4-3 in a pulsating Friday lunchtime encounter at Dandora Stadium.
The entertaining seven-goal thriller, the only NSL fixture staged on Friday, 22 May to usher in Round 34 of the league campaign, saw Talanta produce another spirited display as they condemned the promotion-chasing visitors to a damaging defeat.
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The hosts made an electric start and wasted little time asserting themselves.
Former Tusker winger Stewart Omondi handed Talanta the lead just two minutes into the contest after capitalising on a shaky Fortune backline to fire the home side ahead.
Fortune, however, responded positively and restored parity in the 11th minute through midfielder Clem Imbayi.
Rising highest inside the box, Imbayi brilliantly connected with a teasing delivery to head home and silence the home crowd momentarily.
Their celebrations would prove short-lived. Talanta quickly regained control of the match and restored their advantage just two minutes after the quarter-hour mark through Evans Malo.
The forward finished clinically after a swift attacking move before doubling his tally moments later to hand the hosts a commanding 3-1 cushion.
Fortune refused to fold and found a route back into the game just before the halftime whistle.
In-form striker Collins Maina rose above the Talanta defence to expertly connect with a well-weighted lofted ball from Omar Swaleh, reducing the deficit and ensuring the visitors remained firmly in the contest heading into the break.
Trailing 3-2 at halftime, Fortune emerged for the second half with renewed urgency and determination.
Their persistence paid off when Maina once again struck to level matters.
The red-hot attacker made no mistake inside the area to bag his brace of the afternoon and take his impressive league tally to 23 goals, capping off a thrilling goal-laden affair.
But just as Fortune looked set to complete the comeback, Talanta struck once more.
Shortly after the hour mark, Malo completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after the hosts were awarded a spot-kick.
The in-form attacker calmly sent goalkeeper Malvin Nderitu the wrong way to restore Talanta’s lead at 4-3.
Despite late pressure from the visitors, Talanta held on to register yet another statement result in what has been an impressive run against some of the league’s top sides.
The victory further highlighted Talanta’s growing momentum, coming only weeks after their emphatic 3-0 triumph over Mombasa United and a hard-fought 3-3 draw away to MOFA at Mamboleo Stadium.
Equally significant, the result allowed Talanta to avenge their 3-1 first-leg defeat suffered at Wang’uru Stadium earlier in the season.
The win lifted them to 51 points and significantly boosted their push for a top-five finish.
For Fortune Sacco, however, the defeat could prove costly in their pursuit of promotion.
Having arrived in Nairobi buoyed by a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over title-chasing Migori Youth, Vincent Nyaberi’s charges were hoping to close the gap on the leading pack.
Instead, they dropped crucial points and now find themselves eight points behind the league leaders.
With only four matches remaining before the curtain falls on the campaign, the microfinance-backed side now sit 11 points adrift of the promotion playoff position, leaving them with virtually no margin for error in the run-in.
Any further slip-up could effectively end their hopes of securing promotion to the FKF Premier League.