Victor Otieno Late Strike Hands Ingwe Dramatic Win Over Ulinzi

AFC Leopards produced a spirited performance to edge Ulinzi Stars 2-1 in a dramatic FKF Premier League clash decided by a last-gasp winner on Thursday afternoon.

Ingwe came into the fixture keen to bounce back after a frustrating goalless draw against Kenya Police and they showed their intent early, pushing Ulinzi onto the back foot from the opening minutes.

Their first real chance arrived in the ninth minute when Tyson Otieno attempted an acrobatic overhead kick from a well-weighted James Kinyanjui cross, only for the effort to drift narrowly wide. Leopards continued to dictate play, forcing Ulinzi to defend deep as the soldiers searched for redemption following their recent loss to KCB.

Masuta Masita should have opened the scoring midway through the first half after Paul Okoth picked him out inside the box, but Patrick Katasi reacted sharply to keep Ulinzi level with a fine save. Timothy Odhiambo was then called into action twice in quick succession, denying Leopards from open play and later from a dangerous free kick as pressure mounted.

The breakthrough finally came in first-half stoppage time when Tyson Otieno delivered a dangerous corner that ended up in the back of the net, giving AFC Leopards a deserved lead heading into the break. Ulinzi nearly responded immediately through Boniface Muchiri, but his free kick flew just over the bar.

Ulinzi Stars emerged stronger after the restart and were rewarded five minutes into the second half when Paul Okoth finished off a well-worked move to restore parity. The hosts grew in confidence, making tactical changes as they pushed for a second goal, while Humphrey Katasi was forced into a smart save to keep Leopards in the contest.

Sustained pressure from Ulinzi saw them come agonisingly close again when a corner delivery caused chaos in the box, only for Paul Okoth’s close-range effort to strike the post. Tempers briefly flared midway through the half, resulting in a yellow card as the intensity of the match increased.

AFC Leopards responded with substitutions of their own, reshuffling the side in search of a winner. The changes paid off in the dying moments when Victor Otieno found space in added time and calmly finished to silence the home crowd and seal all three points for Ingwe.

The late goal secured a vital away win for AFC Leopards, keeping them firmly in the hunt as the FKF Premier League campaign continues.