Situma, Junior On Target As Mathare Bury Rangers In Machakos SPL Tie

28th March 2019 - by Erick Ochieng

Former league winners rediscover winning form to go up to third on the log following a first half collapse by struggling mailmen

Mathare United FC player warms up ahead of their SPL encounter against Posta Rangers FC at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Thursday afternoon. PHOTO/ MATHARE UNITED FC

SUMMARY

A three-goal first half blitz propelled Mathare United FC to trounce Posta Rangers FC 3-1 in a SportPesa Premier League (SPL) clash at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Thursday afternoon
The match was finely balanced until Charles Odette notched an own goal to give Mathare a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute.
Harun Junior made it 3-0 with a drilled in shot following a melee on Rangers goal-mouth in the 35th as Cavin Odongo pulled one for Rangers in the 72nd

MACHAKOS, Kenya- A three-goal first half blitz propelled Mathare United FC to trounce Posta Rangers FC 3-1 in a SportPesa Premier League (SPL) clash at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Thursday afternoon.

The 2008 champions moved up to third following the victory having held off a second half fight-back from the struggling mailmen.

The match was finely balanced until Charles Odette notched an own goal to give Mathare a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute.

Odette’s error sparked a collapse from Rangers whose defensive error-strewn display was punished by two further goals from the slum boys.

James Situma stretched the Mathare’s tally to 2-0 in the 29th after he successfully headed in a Kevin Kimani set piece cross from the left wing.

Harun Junior made it 3-0 with a drilled in shot following a goal-mouth melee in the 35th to complete the opening stanza nightmare for Rangers.

The mailmen came out for the second half a much-improved side and their enterprise in attack was rewarded with the consolation when Cavin Odongo pulled one back in the 72nd.

That rattled Mathare who dropped even deeper to protect their lead but Rangers could not set a grandstand finish despite laying siege on the Slum Boys goal.

It was Junior’s first goal for Mathare who leapfrogged tumbling coast-based Bandari FC into third having notched 34 points from 19 games.

The loss saw Rangers (16) fall to the SPL/National Super League play-off spot of 16th with Zoo Kericho FC and Mt. Kenya FC who lost 4-0 and 3-1 to title holders Gor Mahia FC and Sofapaka FC on Wednesday in that order propping them from the bottom.

“We utilised our chances well in the first half. We could have scored more goals had we had the same vigour in the later stages but unfortunately we became comfortable with the scoreline,” Mathare assistant head coach, Salim Ali, remarked after the match.

Rangers head coach, John Kamau blamed lack of sharpness upfront on their loss saying he is now out to shop for a lethal striker before the SPL mini transfer window closes on April 8.

“We had lots of chances but there was no one to convert them into goals. I probably needs one clean finisher to do this job,” Kamau rued.

Mathare United Starting XI: 1.David Okello (GK) 28.James Situma 20.Martin Ongori 4.Harun Junior 12.Andrew Juma 22.Roy Okal 11.Cliff Nyakeya 29.Chrispin Oduor 13.John Mwangi 7.Kevin Kimani 21.Clifford Alwanga

Subs: 30. Job Ochieng’ (GK) 14.Arnold Onyango 17.James Kinyanjui 8.Alphonce Ndonye 27.Tyson Otieno 15.Ronald Reagan 16.David Owino