Sofapaka and Mathare United settled for a 2-2 draw in a Kenyan Premier League (KPL) match played on Sunday.
Two goals each for Sofapaka’s Umaru Kasumba and Mathare United’s Cliff Nyakeya settled the highly entertaining match in Machakos.
As many as 18 goals have now been scored in the last four fixtures involving the two sides which lifted the KPL title in 2008 (Mathare United) and 2009 (Sofapaka)
A collision involving Allan Owiny and Umaru Kasumba in the second minute forced the referee to stop the match as the two players were attended to by medics. After somewhat prolonged treatment, the two players were allowed to resume play.
Mathare United created the first real chance to score the first goal in the 12th but Johnstone Omurwa’s header from the unmarked position was feeble and Justin Ndikumana just claimed the ball with ease.
Sofapaka midfielder Dennis Odhiambo was unlucky when he attempted to beat Owiny from just outside the box with a volleyed effort but the ball just went over the bar in the 25th minute of play.
James Kinyanjui for Mathare United was not clinical with the last ball when they broke free on a counter-attack in the 33rd minute. The former Thika United star was not precise and his effort veered off target, as both sides failed to make the most of their chances in the scoreless first half.
It took Kasumba just three minutes after resumption to score his 13th goal of the season. The Ugandan striker sumptuously chested down the ball from the long cross and slotted past Owiny.
Cliff Nyakeya restored parity in the 53rd minute when he managed to beat Ndikumana with a low cross after he was spotted by Chrispin Oduor.
Two minutes to the hour mark, Kasumba scored the second for Sofapaka after he managed to beat the offside trap. Waruru spotted his teammate and Kasumba went past Mathare United’s goalkeeper Owiny to plant the ball into an empty net.
Nyakeya rose to the occasion again to help Mathare United peg the score back to 2-2 in the 66th minute. It was Oduor who was the assist maker of the second goal just as he did in the first one.
Sofapaka XI : Justin Ndikumana, Willis Ouma, Mousa Omar, Faina Jacob, Titus Achesa; Dennis Odhiambo, Brian Magonya; Ellie Asieche, Mike Oduor, John Avire and Umaru Kasumba.
