Gor Mahia, Sofapaka share spoils in chaotic match
Defending champions Gor Mahia dropped two points on Sunday after being held to a barren draw by Sofapaka in a hard fought and violent encounter that ended in a barren stalemate.
At the Afraha Stadium, Ulinzi Stars’ new found hit man John Makwata scored his sixth goal of the season to steer the soldiers to an impressive 3-1 victory over Nakuru All Stars.
Mathare United and Sony Sugar played to a 1-1 draw at the Nyayo National Stadium, while Tusker returned to winning ways with a 3-1 win over Western Stima away in Kisumu.
In the effervescent Gor match, center referee Raphael Nduati and his two assistants came under fire several times and the game was halted for close to ten minutes in the second half when the aggrieved fans pelted the match officials with missiles.
It was 30 minutes into the second half and with a nervy 0-0 score when Sofapaka striker Abdul Fiston appeared to have smacked K’Ogalo defender Dirkir Glay on the face, and the Liberian rolled on the ground in pain giving fans the impression that he had been badly injured.
Referee Nduati however decided to punish Fiston with a measly yellow card, further annoying the fans who had expected him to flash a straight red card.
DISAPPOINTMENT
The K’Ogalo stewards however managed to calm the fans down and the match proceeded to its logical end.
Sofapaka coach Sam Timbe expressed his disappointment with the turn of events, lamenting that there had been too little security personnel for such a potentially high risk match.
“Of course there were officiating decisions that weren’t favorable for both sides but the Gor fans need to learn how to control themselves better,” Timbe said.
Michael Olunga almost opened the scoring in the second minute with a shot that went narrowly wide.
Meddie Kagere also tested goalkeeper David Okello with a curling effort in the 27th minute.
Sofapaka’s only notable chance in the first half saw Agwanda forcing goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch to a fine save in the 38th minute after being set up by Kevin Omondi.
At the stroke of half time, Innocent Wafula dispatched a rasping shot on the other end of the pitch that missed the target.
KPL Results:
Gor Mahia 0 Sofapaka 0
Western Stima 1 Tusker 3
Mathare United 1 Sony Sugar 1
Nakuru All Stars 1 Ulinzi Stars 3