Sharks, Leopards Fail To Prey On Each Other In SPL Stalemate
9th December 2018
Mwendwa and skipper Kamura trade first half goals at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos for a share of the spoils in tough encounter that ended 1-1
- Other Sunday SPL fixtures saw Nzoia United FC record a 1-0 victory away at Zoo Kericho FC, with one of the rank title favourites and 11-time champions Tusker FC coming away from Sony Sugar FC with a share of the spoils in another 1-1 stalemate
- Michael Bodo of Sharks was shown a straight red card for unwarranted protests following a meaty challenge on his teammate James Mazembe with a minute of regulation time to go
- Carrying on his roaring form from last season, seasoned forward Enock Agwanda salvaged a point for Sony in the dying embers of their fixture at the Awendo Green Stadium
MACHAKOS, Kenya- Kariobangi Sharks FC and AFC Leopards SC launched their 2018/19 SportPesa Premier League (SPL) campaign with a 1-1 draw at the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos on Sunday.
Earlier at the same venue, Sofapaka FC edged Mount Kenya FC 2-1 with Vihiga United FC stunning 2010 title winners Ulinzi Stars FC 2-0.
Other Sunday SPL fixtures saw Nzoia United FC record a 1-0 victory away at Zoo Kericho FC, with one of the rank title favourites and 11-time champions Tusker FC coming away from Sony Sugar FC with a share of the spoils in another 1-1 stalemate.
Seeking to replicate their September 18 victory over in the second leg of the SPL, Sharks went ahead through Harrison Mwendwa in the 15th minute.
Leopards however, hit back seven minutes later through a penalty from captain Robinson Kamura and try as they might, the last two domestic cup winners could not conjure up a winner.
Sharks found the breakthrough when Vincent Wasambo who won a rare start saw the run of Mwendwa and conjured a defence splitting pass that the winger gobbled up by skinning his marker in the box to beat Jairus Adira in the Leopards goal.
The reigning SportPesa Shield holders were then pegged back when midfielder Geoffrey Shiveka used his hands to stop a goal bound shot from Eugene Mukangula goal bound shot.
Skipper Kamura stepped up to bury the resultant spot kick and the well contested encounter had a dramatic finish when Michael Bodo of Sharks was shown a straight red card for unwarranted protests following a meaty challenge on his teammate James Mazembe with a minute of regulation time to go.
Dying embers
Sharks head coach, William Muluya, was forced to go to the game without injured forwards Sydney Lokale, George Abege and Erick Kapaito.
At the Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega, ex-Sony attacker Victor Ademba gave the hosts a sixth minute lead after a defensive lapse by the soldiers with Stephen Wakhanya doubling the lead in the closing stages of the opening stanza after finishing a sleek counter attacking move.
Carrying on his roaring form from last season, seasoned forward Enock Agwanda salvaged a point for Sony in the dying embers of their fixture at the Awendo Green Stadium after David Juma set head coach Robert ‘The Lion’ Matano’s brewers up to claim the maximum points.
Juma found the target in the 38th and Tusker- who are among the teams angling to dethrone champions Gor Mahia FC who went down 1-2 to 2018 SPL runner-ups Bandari FC on Saturday- holding on until Agwanda nicked a point for the sugar millers.