AFC Leopards came from behind beat Thika united 2-1 and end a six match winless streak at Thika Municipal Stadium on Saturday.
Geoffrey Simiyu gave the home team the lead barely after five minutes with a tricky shot that beat Brian Tiema in Leopards goal.
Leopards however raised the ante and it came as no surprise when Bernard Man’goli levelled the scores from a free kick after Charles Okwemba was brought down outside the danger zone.
Thika United suffered a major blow late in the first half after Michael Bodo was red-carded for a second bookable offence.
Former Ulinzi Stars striker Mike Barasa scored the match winner on 48 minutes after receiving a nice pass from man of the match Okwemba.
AFC Leopards have now climbed from 12th to 11th spot with 19 points.
(slid back to 12th after the Mathare draw against Gor)
MichezoAfrika reports:-
Mike Baraza’s thunderous shot in the second half was all AFC Leopards fans needed to stage a coup in Thika town with a fantastic 1-2 revenge win against Thika United at the Thika Municipal stadium. This is a reverse of the first leg results when AFC Leopards went down 0-2 in the hands of the same Thika United at their Mumias backyard.
The new team staged a fantastic display especially in the second half piling immense pressure on the Thika United defense leading to the dismissal of Michael Omondi for foul play giving AFC Leopards a numerical advantage.
Led by Dutch man Jan Koops assisted by Nick Yakhama, AFC employed a different strategy starting up Nicholas Muyoti in the midfield alongside another experienced Charles Okwemba.This was the engine of the Leopard as they constantly fed an equally lethal striking force of Francis Chinjili,Jimmy Bageya and Mike Baraza.
Thika had a false signal going ahead first in the 6th minute through Kennedy Wendo who lobbed home past Barnabas Tiema in the Ingwe goal for the opener.
But Bernard Mang’oli sent the hundreds of traveling Blue brigade fans into wild celebrations with a scintillating equalizer in the 30th minute that almost ruptured the Thika nets.
Mike Baraza was the man of the day connecting a long range shot just two minutes into the second half to secure the all important win for AFC Leopards to end weeks of tribulations and tension.
This becomes the first win in six matches for AFC and will serve as a turning point for a former champion who was dipping further down into relegation zone with a series of poor results.
“We are back in style. This was the best match for our team ever, we kept piling the pressure and God was on our side today we finally shrugged off our poor form. We now need a solid strategy to maintain a winning form as we plan for our next big fixture against Gor Mahia in Nairobi.” Said AFC Leopards’ team manager Bernard Onyango after the match.
The new team staged a fantastic display especially in the second half piling immense pressure on the Thika United defense leading to the dismissal of Michael Omondi for foul play giving AFC Leopards a numerical advantage.
Led by Dutch man Jan Koops assisted by Nick Yakhama, AFC employed a different strategy starting up Nicholas Muyoti in the midfield alongside another experienced Charles Okwemba.This was the engine of the Leopard as they constantly fed an equally lethal striking force of Francis Chinjili,Jimmy Bageya and Mike Baraza.
Thika had a false signal going ahead first in the 6th minute through Kennedy Wendo who lobbed home past Barnabas Tiema in the Ingwe goal for the opener.
But Bernard Mang’oli sent the hundreds of traveling Blue brigade fans into wild celebrations with a scintillating equalizer in the 30th minute that almost ruptured the Thika nets.
Mike Baraza was the man of the day connecting a long range shot just two minutes into the second half to secure the all important win for AFC Leopards to end weeks of tribulations and tension.
This becomes the first win in six matches for AFC and will serve as a turning point for a former champion who was dipping further down into relegation zone with a series of poor results.
“We are back in style. This was the best match for our team ever, we kept piling the pressure and God was on our side today we finally shrugged off our poor form. We now need a solid strategy to maintain a winning form as we plan for our next big fixture against Gor Mahia in Nairobi.” Said AFC Leopards’ team manager Bernard Onyango after the match.
Futaa reports:-
AFC Leopards landed a first win in the Kenyan Premier League since May 2, 2011 after seeing off a ten man Thika United 1-2 at the Thika Municipal Stadium.
The game however kicked off minutes late as fans who had jammed the stadium had to get off the perimeter fence.
The game began with the home team taking an early lead from Ken Wendo in just the fourth minute.
Bernard Mangoli [Wanyama] drew the visitor’s level in the 28th minute. Thika then lost Michael Omondi to a red card after netting back to back yellow cards within three minute of each other - the second coming six minutes into the half.
Import Mike Baraza acquired from Ulinzi Stars at the mini transfer window in June justified his buy with a second - and winner for Leopards when he netted the second three minutes into the second half.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Tusker | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 9 | 11 | 33 |
| 2 | Rangers | 17 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 25 | 12 | 13 | 32 |
| 3 | KCB | 17 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 25 | 13 | 12 | 29 |
| 4 | Ulinzi Stars | 16 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 27 |
| 5 | Gor Mahia | 15 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 27 |
| 6 | Western Stima | 17 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 26 |
| 7 | Chemelil Sugar | 17 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 24 |
| 8 | Sofapaka | 16 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 23 |
| 9 | Karuturi Sports | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 11 | -2 | 23 |
| 10 | Thika United | 17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 19 | 22 | -3 | 21 |
| 11 | Mathare United | 17 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 19 |
| 12 | AFC Leopards | 16 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 15 | 19 | -4 | 19 |
| 13 | Sony Sugar | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 19 | -7 | 19 |
| 14 | Bandari | 17 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 27 | -14 | 14 |
| 15 | Congo United | 17 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 26 | -15 | 14 |
| 16 | City Stars | 17 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 18 | -9 | 13 |
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