Ulinzi stage comeback to hold Police as forces derby ends in another stalemate

Stephen Etyang's second half equalizer was enough to handle Kenya Police in a tense FKF Premier League tie at the Nyayo National Stadium as both sides played out to a 1-1 draw on Friday afternoon.

Elvis Rupia had given the visitors the lead but could not see out the result, seeing both sides share spoils for the second time in the league this season.

"I think we had a really good start to the game but somehow fell complacent in the end," Kenya Police head coach Francis Baraza said after the game. "I am looking at this result as two points dropped."

Vincent Otieno, who was holding the spot for Ulinzi head coach Bernard Mwalala who was out with illness, thought his side did well in the second half of what he referred to as a 'tough game'.

"We knew Police weren't that good off the ball and we threw everything in the second half and I am very delighted with how we reacted."

The result had little bearing on the standings; with Kenya Police maintaining fourth place with 57 points while Ulinzi - with their 12th draw this season - remained eighth with 45 points.

Finally, under the calm skies at the Nyayo National Stadium, the FKF Premier League made its return, a few fans making their way out of their busy schedules to grace the game slowly gathering pace to being a big derby around these sides.

The first ten minutes in hindsight punctured any expectations of a thriller, as the rather long break seemed to affect the rhythm of both sets of players.

Another similar story with the two was the three changes each side had made from their previous encounters, a key returnee for Police - Lesley Otieno- coming close, minutes after the club's top scorer had spurned a delightful ball from Abud Omar over the Ulinzi's goal.

A miscalculated parry from Sylvane Omondi then had Lesley free at the edge of the box - his crack going way over the upright.

The visitors were enjoying big moments infront of goal, and should have taken the lead just inside the 28th minute as Duke Abuya (another change made prior to the game) sliced his shot wide, extending the now hands on faces moments for the Law Enforcers following a close attempt from Elvis Rupia that whistled its way across the face of goal.

The moment finally came for Police, and out of nothing.

A string of passes from the rearguard set off Marvin Nabwire who upon scanning the field found Duke Abuya in space.

Bonventure Muchika's best efforts to close down an accelerating Rupia were ultimately vain, as the latter turned to receive Abuya's pass, sneaking the ball past an onrushing Omondi to spark huge celebrations from the Police stand.

Half an hour gone into the game and Clifton Miheso was staring at another missed Police opportunity- one that came in quick succession following the goal - when he missed what looked to be a great assist from Duke Abuya.

Ulinzi Stars tried to get Stephen Etyang going on the right as every ball was whipped his direction, but Police remained resolute, holding on to a slim advantage at the half.

Ulinzi, who were once again fortunate to escape a snap shot attempt from Lesley Otieno early days into the second period, weren't going down easily, and the attacking changes by head coach Vincent Otieno, acting for Bernard Mwalala who was missing from the dugout, indicated a new lease of life for the home side.

FKFPL champions to walk home empty handed

The duo of Hillary Simiyu and Lucas Maina made their way into the fray and inside the 69th minute, the ever bright Steven Etyang levelled matters for Ulinzi as his looped freekick surprisingly caught out Job Ochieng in the Police goal, setting the pace for a frenetic 20 minutes left in the tie.

The military men were not murking about thereafter, and Enosh Ochieng, free in space, couldn't get his head to touch an Etyang cross that seemed to threaten the Police backline.

Everything was going through the duo of Etyang and Maina, who was exploiting a nervous looking Police backline, and Enosh Ochieng felt as if he could have made more of Job Ochieng showing his jitters when he bobbled a tame shot that came his way.

The Ulinzi Stars fanbase was having a blast, and as the clock ticked into the last 10 minutes, one of Police's substitutes - Alvin Mang'eni- found space in attack, his shot getting deflected in the path of Omondi in goal.

A slight altercation heavily involving Elvis Rupia at the end indicated how tense the game was in the last few minutes, and as Clinton Kinanga skipped high to harmlessly head on goal, the emotive tie had reached its end, a 1-1 draw seemingly a fair result.