NSL: Mara Sugar, Naivas pick wins as Mulembe bow to Vihiga Bullets

Mara Sugar have kept their promotion dream alive after handing Nairobi United a 2-0 defeat at the Kasarani Annex on Saturday.

The sugar mean had appeared to have run short of steam in the previous matches, allowing fellow promotion hopefuls Mathare United and Naivas to open a gap at the top.

However, they are back in the promotion picture after a sweet and fruitful visit to Nairobi.

First-half goals from Joseph Okwenda and Francis Ngiela were enough to hand Mara their seventh win of the season that placed them three points behind Mathare and Naivas.

The shoppers who are at the summit by virtue of their better goal difference beat Mombasa Elite 1-0 at the Safaricom Mpesa Foundation Grounds in Thika.

Naivas are the most on-form team in the competition in recent times as they have won all their last five matches.

The Collins Omondi-coached side scooped all three points on Saturday thanks to Robert Karisa’s first-half strike.

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Kisumu All Stars also dragged themselves into the mix after beating Darajani Gogo 2-0 at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu.

Charles Bruno’s charges who have reaped maximum points in three consecutive matches got their goals through Michael Karamor and Brian Ombura.

In other matches played on Saturday, Vihiga Bullets recovered from a goal down to beat Mulembe United 4-1 at Ruaraka Grounds.

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Thomas Omole was the hero of the game as he found the back of the net three times for Bullets with Soita Owuor adding the fourth goal.

Kepha Ondati scored the sole goal for Mulembe.

Dimba Patriots edged Kajiado 2-1 to register their fourth win in the campaign.

Goals from Patrick Onyiego and Young Last reduced Ali Liban’s strike to a mere consolation.