MACHAKOS, Kenya, May 1 – Sofapaka survived a late scare to beat Posta Rangers 3-2 at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Wednesday evening to cut the difference between them and leaders Gor Mahia to just six points and keep their chase for the league title alive.
With the victory, Sofapaka moved to 52 points in the standings, six points behind leaders Gor Mahia who play KCB at the same venue on Thursday afternoon.
Tow goals within two minutes from Umaru Kasumba and George Maelo had added on to John Avire’s first half goal, but a series of defensive frailties almost cost Batoto ba Mungu victory with Felix Oluoch and Francis Nambute scoring for the mailmen.
After creating chance after chance, Sofapaka finally broke the deadlock after 27 minutes when Avire’s shot bumbled through a forest of legs before dropping into the net from the edge of the six yard box.
The striker had picked the ball after George Maelo’s shot from a poorly defended corner fell on him and the forward made no mistake to notch in his sixth goal of the season, breaking a goal drought that stretched all the way to March when he scored against AFC Leopards in Kakamega.
Before that, Avire had another golden chance when he broke into the box but his tame shot was saved by a fully stretched Eliud Emase.
Sofapaka had dominated the early proceedings and they created many chances, but simply couldn’t finish. Umaru Kasumba, searching for his 15th goal of the season had gone for a header off a Brian Magonya cross, but it went straight to Emase.
Prior, Posta had created a chance when a well weighted cross from the right found Felix Oluoch unmarked inside the box, but his glancing header went over with only the keeper to beat.
Ochieng had another chance late in the half when he broke away on the left after a counter attack, but his shot after going in through George Maelo’s blind side hit the upright and rolled out of play.
In between, Sofapaka had good chances to score more. Achesa, facing his former employers put up an industrious run on the left before cutting back, but Ibrahim Kajuba’s shot was saved by the keeper.
Avire had another chance when he was picked out by a brilliant pass from Brian Magonya but he took a rushed shot which went inches over.
Achesa also had a chance of his own when he skipped away from his markers cutting in from the left, but his shot on the weaker right foot went over.
In the second half Sofapaka scored two quick goals within the opening three minutes of the half, one of them thanks to a mistake from keeper Emase.
Just a minute into the half, Kasumba struck his 15th goal of the season when he ran in behind the defense to pick out a pass from Asieche before rounding Emase and tapping into an empty net.
Two minutes later, Sofapaka were 3-0 up when right back Maelo noticed the keeper off his line and struck a dipping shot from almost 40 yards out which trickled into the net, Emase trying in vain to back track and turn the ball behind.
But, no sooner had they scored the third than complacency creeped in allowing Posta one back into the game after 53 minutes.
Oluoch who had been the dangerman all evening tapped the ball into an empty net after a defensive mix up ended in keeper Justin Ndikumana being drawn off his line and his attempt to pick the ball went awry.
The goal sparked some fight from Posta and 10 minutes later, Ndikumana redeemed himself with a good save at his near post to parry away a shot from Georson Likonoh who had broken in from the left.
Posta kept knocking and after 71 minutes, another defensive blooper saw them score another.
Substitute John Nairuka struck a shot from range which Ndikumana spilled and Nambute was fast to react to the ball, picking it and slapping it into the net.
The goal then added more wood to the Posta fire and they piled pressure, Sofapaka defending nervously. Nonetheless, the former champions held on to their slim lead to pick maximum points.
