Paul Odhiambo's brace against Sofapaka extends Ulinzi Stars' resurgence
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Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 24.11.25. | 17:23
For Sofapaka, the defeat extended their slump, becoming their second loss in a row and fifth overall, leaving them 14th on 11 points
Ulinzi Stars produced a remarkable performance as they fought from a goal down to claim a commanding 3–1 comeback victory over Sofapaka in a tightly contested FKF Premier League clash staged at the Kasarani Annex on Monday, 24 November.
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Douglas Kibet had fired Sofapaka into an early lead inside six minutes, but that advantage quickly faded as Ulinzi mounted a spirited response, with Masuta Masita drawing the Soldiers level before Paul Odhiambo sealed the afternoon with a well-taken brace.
The result marked Ulinzi Stars’ third win of the campaign, and head coach Stephen Ocholla’s second consecutive triumph, lifting the military side out of the relegation zone for the first time in nearly two months as they rose to ninth place on 12 points.
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For Sofapaka, the defeat extended their slump, becoming their second loss in a row and fifth overall, leaving them 14th on 11 points.
Coming into the match on the back of a morale-boosting 1–0 victory against APS Bomet, Ulinzi Stars looked eager to build momentum.
Sofapaka, meanwhile, were desperate to rebound from a 2–0 loss to Bandari, and their urgency showed immediately.
It took just six minutes for Batoto ba Mungu to break the deadlock. Kibet reacted sharply inside the box, guiding the ball past Sylvian Ricks to hand the hosts a perfect start.
Two minutes later, Sofapaka nearly doubled their advantage when Joseph Koluba unleashed a fierce left-footed effort, only for the strike to sail narrowly over the bar.
Ulinzi gradually settled, tightening their midfield control and pushing forward with purpose.
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In the 11th minute, Bildad Abonga nearly restored parity when he connected with a precise Boniface Muchiri corner, but his effort missed the target by inches.
Moments later, captain Brian Birgen delivered a well-weighted lofted pass to Odhiambo, but Sofapaka goalkeeper Iddrisu Shaib reacted quickly to avert danger.
The Soldiers kept probing, and their persistence finally bore fruit in the 25th minute when Masita reacted fastest inside the six-yard box, sliding the ball past Edward Olak to level matters.
The equaliser triggered a more cautious spell as both sides battled for midfield supremacy.
Ulinzi, however, almost went into the break ahead when Odhiambo rose to meet a Telena Ochieng cross, but his glancing header drifted narrowly wide, bringing an end to a pulsating first half.
The 2010 Premier League champions resumed the second half with renewed intensity and were rewarded almost immediately.
A poorly cleared ball in Sofapaka’s area fell kindly to Odhiambo in the 46th minute, and the towering forward made no mistake, firing home to give the visitors a deserved 2–1 lead.
With momentum firmly in their favour, Ulinzi pressed forward. Muchiri nearly extended the advantage with a powerful 25-yard free-kick that flashed inches past the upright.
Sofapaka attempted to rally through Japheth Mzungu, whose combination play with Koluba ended with a curling effort that rolled agonisingly wide.
Ulinzi put the match beyond reach in the 76th minute. Masita brilliantly shook off his marker before delivering a pinpoint cross that Odhiambo met with a thunderous header to complete his brace and stretch Ulinzi’s lead to 3–1.
Sofapaka threw numbers forward in the closing stages in search of a lifeline and nearly pulled one back through substitute Bramuel Simiyu.
His well-struck effort forced goalkeeper Ricks into a full-stretch fingertip save to preserve the Soldiers’ two-goal cushion.
Despite the late pressure, Ulinzi Stars remained resolute, sealing a victory that not only boosts team morale but also signals their growing stability under coach Ocholla.
