Troubled Mt. Kenya Finally Relegated, KCB Hit Sharks In 5-Goal Marathon

18th May 2019 - by SPN Correspondent

A Derrick Otanga first half double set up the sugar millers on their way before Solomon Omollo added a third three minutes after half time to pile on the misery for the basement side

Mt. Kenya FC's Boniface Mukhekhe in action in a previous SPL clash. PHOTO/Courtesy/Mt. Kenya FC

SUMMARY

Elsewhere, Sofapaka FC failed to dislodge Bandari FC from second place after coming from behind to draw 1-1 at Nzoia Sugar FC with Posta Rangers FC and Kakamega Homeboyz FC sharing a 0-0 stalemate in the last fixture of the day in the SPL
Victorious KCB (40) moved up to eighth as Sharks (38) fell out of the top 10, slipping to 11th after coming on the wrong end of a thrilling encounter in what was their second defeat in succession this week
A Patrick Otieno penalty gave Nzoia the lead in the 28th minute but Batoto ba Mungu fought back to equalise through their dangerman, Umaru Kasumba, in the 77th for a share of the spoils, denying the home side who stunned champions Gor 1-0 midweek a second big SPL scalp in days

NAIROBI, Kenya- A nightmare season for Mt. Kenya United FC ended in the inevitable relegation after losing 1-3 to Sony Sugar FC on Saturday to hammer the last nail in their SportPesa Premier League (SPL) coffin as visitors KCB FC edged Kariobangi Sharks FC 3-2 in a five-goal thriller in Nairobi.

Elsewhere, Sofapaka FC failed to dislodge Bandari FC from second place after coming from behind to draw 1-1 at Nzoia Sugar FC with Posta Rangers FC and Kakamega Homeboyz FC sharing a 0-0 stalemate in the last fixture of the day in the SPL.

The weekend will be highlighted by the Mashemeji Derby where AFC Leopards SC will host the old enemy, champions and log leaders Gor Mahia FC at MISC Kasarani on Sunday where a win for the visitors will all but secure a record-extending 18th league success and a first for Turkish head coach Hassan Oktay.

Zoo Kericho FC (28) and Vihiga United FC (25), who are involved in the furious battle to escape the chop and the lottery SPL/NSL play-off, will be away to Bandari and at home to Tusker FC in that order with Chemelil Sugar FC (29) who occupy the last safe position by only a point, hosting Ulinzi Stars FC in a tricky test.

With 18 points from 31 outings, defeat left Mt. Kenya rooted to the bottom 10 points adrift of 16th-placed Zoo Kericho FC with three games to play condemning them to the second tier National Super League (NSL) next term.

Sofapaka (57) are one behind the Dockers who have a game in hand, the in form Sony (52) scaled to the dizzying heights of fourth following a roaring second half of the season.

Victorious KCB (40) moved up to eighth as Sharks (38) fell out of the top 10, slipping to 11th after coming on the wrong end of a thrilling encounter in what was their second defeat in succession this week.

Having threatened to award Sony a third walkover that would have automatically relegated them from the SPL, Mt. Kenya took to the pitch at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos knowing only victory was required to keep them in the hunt for an unlikely survival.

The 2015 losing domestic cup finalists were however, undone by a Derrick Otanga first half double that set up the sugar millers on their way before Solomon Omollo added a third three minutes after half time to pile on the misery for the basement side.

Cash-strapped team

With their fate sealed, the cash-strapped team rallied to pull one back in the 79th minute through Brian Nyakan but it was not enough to extend their top flight stay.

Otanga notched his first and 12th of a rewarding campaign in the 27th before making it 2-0 to Sony 11 minutes later.

Omollo's strike in the 48th made the points safe before Mt. Kenya netted their consolation that in the end, could not deny the sugar millers from Awendo their second win on the bounce having silenced the Sharks 2-0 in midweek.

Formerly Nakumatt FC, Mt. Kenya's woes started when the giant retailer went into financial turmoil and after hanging on to their SPL status last term, the team was taken over by a consortium fronted by politicians who changed their name.

However, after going unpaid since the turn of the year, the players gave up and their season went from bad to worse, awarding their opponents two walkovers in the past month before defeat to Sony sealed their fate as they slipped into the difficult second tier NSL.

Fueled by revenge and a Chrispinus Onyango second half brace after Sharks dealt their SportPesa Shield ambitions last weekend with a 1-0 victory last weekend, the bankers set upon the domestic cup holders who lost their midweek SPL clash 0-2 at Sony from the onset of this encounter played at Kasarani.

Former Leopards striker Ezekiel Omulo put the bankers ahead in the 10th minute from the spot after Kennedy Owino was brought down in the Sharks penalty area.

KCB enjoyed more of the possession in the opening minutes after going ahead and almost got a second in the 24th but Owino's effort went wide of goal.

Sharks found their way back into the game as the half progressed with Harrison Mwendwa and Eric Kapaito looking the more dangerous up front for William Muluya's charges.

However, KCB managed to hold on to the slim lead until the referee blew for halftime at Kasarani.

Sharks came back stronger in the second half and leveled matters in similar fashion nine minutes after the restart with a penalty as well, calmly slotted in by Duke Abuya.

In the 61st minute, KCB's resilience paid off and Onyango restored their lead with a well taken solo effort, putting the bankers back on course for all three points.

Four minutes later Onyango got his second of the game after he left the Sharks defence in a knot to slot the ball past John Oyemba, who was called up to the preliminary squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations by Harambee Stars head coach, Sebastien Migne for a 3-1 lead.

Dominate proceedings

The game looked to be beyond Sharks as Frank Ouna's team continued to dominate proceedings and laying siege on Oyemba's goal, with the Sharks custodian having started between the sticks in place of Brian Bwire who also landed a surprise call up in the 30-man national team that will depart for France on May 31 for a three-week AFCON training camp.

Shaphan Oyugi pulled one back for Sharks in the 89th minute but it was too little too late as KCB held on for the all important victory.

Both teams will be back at the Kasarani Stadium on Saturday, July 1 for the final day of the Shield tournament with KCB taking on lowly SS Assad FC in the third place playoff match before Sharks attempt to retain their crown when they play Bandari FC, the team they beat to the 2019 SportPesa Cup trophy in Dar-es-Salaam on January 27.

KCB will battle it out against Nzoia Sugar FC on Wednesday (May 22) in their next SPL assignment as they continue to pursue a best possible finish in their first season back in the domestic top flight.

Sharks on the other hand hope to fish form from somewhere ahead of their July 7 landmark friendly showdown with visiting English Premier League side Everton at the cathedral of Kenyan football.

Action between Kariobangi Sharks FC (left) and KCB FC in their SportPesa Premier League clash at MISC Kasarani on Saturday, May 18, 2019. PHOTO/Courtesy/Kariobangi Sharks

Everton finished their first season under Portuguese manager, Marco Silva last weekend aided by a strong run in the final weeks of the English top flight as they prepare for their first visit to Kenya and second tour of East Africa following their 2-1 victory over Gor at the National Main Stadium in Dar in July 2017.

A Patrick Otieno penalty gave Nzoia the lead in the 28th minute but Batoto ba Mungu fought back to equalise through their dangerman, Umaru Kasumba, in the 77th for a share of the spoils, denying the home side who stunned champions Gor 1-0 midweek a second big SPL scalp in days.

-Louis Kalinga, reporting from MISC Kasarani, contributed to this report

SPL IN SUMMARY

Saturday results

Mt. Kenya United 1-3 SoNy Sugar

Kariobangi Sharks 2 - 3 KCB

Nzoia Sugar FC 1 - 1 Sofapaka

Posta Rangers 0 - 0 Kakamega Homeboyz

Sunday fixtures

14:00 Western Stima v Mathare United

15:00 Bandari v Zoo FC

15:00 Chemelil Sugarv Ulinzi Stars

15:00 Vihiga United v Tusker FC

16:15 AFC Leopards v Gor Mahia