B. OdhiamboNSL: Mulembe sink Mara as Mathare dispatch Gusii to go top
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 04.11.23. | 16:29
Mathare United dispatched Gusii to move top of the NSL log on 16 points.
Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) promotion hopefuls Mara Sugar dropped crucial points again after falling 2-1 to struggling Mulembe United in a National Super League fixture played at Mumias Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon.
This was Mulembe’s first win in six games, while for Mara, it was the third consecutive match that the Millers failed to win after picking up a defeat against Mathare United before playing a stalemate with the Dimba Patriots last week.
The returning Ruben Mita had the ball rolling with a bullet header to open the scoring for the Sugar Men with 28 minutes on the clock, but Mara's lead lasted for only ten minutes as Ismael Dogo converted from the spot to ensure the two sides headed into the breather level on scores.
A rejuvenated Mulembe continued to cause havoc in front of a much-changed Mara defense immediately after the restart, and their efforts were rewarded in the 47th minute when a quick exchange between Dogo and Erick Opiyo ended with the former firing past Felix Adoyo, who was making his debut since joining the club from Kisumu All Stars, to hand Mulembe the lead.
Despite late-minute attempts by the Godfery Naibei-instructed Mara, Mulembe held on to the last minute to nick away all the maximum points and move out of the red zone with seven points.
At Gusii Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Elly Asieche and Tony Odhiambo scored a goal each as Mathare United came from behind to stun a demotivated Gusii FC in their own backyard.
Kevin Onsongo had opened the scoring in the 28th minute before a revamped Mathare staged a comeback in the second stanza that instilled Gusii's second consecutive loss of the term.
The win lifts the former FKF Premier League champions to the summit of the league, with Mara and Naivas dropping points.
In Machakos, Naivas failed to collect three points for the second time this season as they battled to a barren draw against Darajani Gogo in a match played at the Kenyatta Stadium on Saturday.
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