MACHAKOS, Kenya, Jan 19 – Darius Msagha’s 85th minute goal was all the difference as struggling Sofapaka edged out Kakamega Homeboyz 1-0 at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos to clinch three precious point to aid in their fight for survival.
It seemed like a game headed for a barren draw with chances few and far in between, but Msagha’s precise left foot gave Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno his second win as Sofapaka coach to see the side move off the bottom, jumping four places up the log from 17th to 13th pending the rest of the weekend matches.
“As compared to the previous matches, today, we had players who could come on and change the game for us. Msagha and Sunday (Ikekhai) won the game for us today because they came in and brought something fresh,” said Zico after the game.
Homeboyz’s struggles in the second half of the season continued as they went for the fifth match without winning, dropping all the way down to seventh in the standings.
“There is so much that we are not getting right. Football is all about the final third. If you can’t get things right there, then you will not succeed. We need to go back to the drawing board and try to improve on areas where we are not doing well,” said head coach Patrick Odhiambo.
Homeboyz had started the match well and pressed from the beginning. They were almost gufted a goal after 13 minutes when Roy Okal passed back to his keeper oblivious of his positioning.
However, the shot stopper managed to race back quick to extend a foot and boot the ball out for a corner.
On the half hour mark, they also had a chance when Moses Mudavadi attempted a first time shot on the volley from the edge of the box after a corner was headed to his direction, but the effort sailed wide.
Eight minutes to the break, Ambrose Sifuna won the ball off Baron Ochieng on the right and cut back a cross to Kevin Amwayi inside the box, but the forward lost his footing and failed to execute a shot from close range.
Sofapaka rarely made inroads in the final third but in the second half after the introduction of the speedy Msagha, they began to be more dangerous.
The former Bandari man curled a shot just over in the 66th minute while later, he had another effort blast wide from the left.
He finally had his goal in the 85th minute when he picked up a cross from Jacob Onyango and shot into the roof of the net first time.
