Thiong'o's strike delivers first league win for Aussems

Second-half substitute Peter Thiong'o has ended coach Patrick Aussems wait for his first Football Kenya Federation Premier League(FKFPL) win after his sole goal was all that AFC Leopards needed to beat Ulinzi Stars 1-0 at the Kasarani Stadium. 

The Belgian tactician began life in the league on the wrong footing after going down 2-1 to Bandari last weekend at the Mbaraki Stadium. 

Thiong'o, who was roped in from Kakamega Homeboyz found the back of the net with 13 minutes left to play bringing the rather off colour game to life as well as to open his goal account with the club. 

Aussems who replaced Anthony Kimani made three changes to the team which fell 2-1 to Bandari by handing Tedian Esilaba his first start, filling the shoes of the under-fire captain Robinson Kamura who dropped to the bench.

Isaac Kipyegon and Bienvenue Shaka returned to the team after recovering from hamstring and groin injuries respectively. 

Kipyegon had missed out on a couple of games having suffered an injury during their 2-1 win over KCB early in January, however his absence proved a blessing in disguise for national U20 left-back Lewis Bandi who has been comfortably filling the slot despite his lack of top-flight experience. 

Aussems certainly broke for the breather a disappointed man with his offensive wingers: Harrison Mwendwa and Jaffari Owiti delivering awful crosses with a large chunk failing to find the target man, leaving Elvis Rupia to feed on scraps. 

The Belgian tactician watched in dismay as the two flankers watered down his plan to fully exploit their pace and cause all sorts of troubles to the Ulinzi defence. 

There was nothing to write home about the opening minutes of the first half until Byron Odiaga went into the referee's book in the 17th minute for bringing Mwendwa down. 

Two minutes later the few selected fans in the stands witnessed the first attempt on target as Oscar Wamalwa rose high to nod Daniel Waweru's long pass but Benjamin Ochan was alert to gather the ball. 

Ingwe who put a fairly decent show in the dying minutes of the half were unlucky not go ahead in the 37th minute as Mwendwa fired a loose ball in the box but the woodwork came to the rescue of the beaten James Saruni. 

Rupia who had a cold afternoon had his first sniff at goal in the 43rd minute, firing hard from the edge of the box after Shaka had been fouled by John Kago but Saruni tipped the ball for the first corner of the game. 

To bring the game into life, Aussems withdrew his defensive midfielder Said Tsuma for Caleb Olilo while Marvin Nabwire replaced Mwendwa before restart. 

Ulinzi's Benjamin Nyangweso also rung changes to his team, resting Elvis Nandwa and Clinton Omondi for Omar Boraafya and Ibrahim Shambi respectively. 

The fresh legs did little to inject flavour into the game however, Peter Thiong'o who had come in the 65th minute for Owiti tapped in Austin Odhiambo's cross to give Ingwe the lead in the 77th minute. 

Leopards held on the slim lead to secure their seventh win of the season.