Post Match: Sofapaka (A)

Leopards missed the chance to go back on top of the Kenya Premier League when they lost 2-1 to Sofapaka last night. John Baraza scored the two goals so from the news round up you will be seeing a lot about 'Baraza' and 'brace'.

Timothy Olobulu of MichezoAfrika writes:-

Kenyan Premier League top scorer John Baraza struck a goal in each half as Sofapaka beat AFC Leopards 2-1 to put the 2009 champions firmly on the leaders’ board as the league comes to a break. Martin Imbalambala scored in the 70th minute but it was too little too late to salvage a point for Ingwe.

Sofapaka took the early chances commanding play in their usual possessive system. Baraza opened scores in the 13th minute with a beautiful diving header after latching on to a Mudde Musa cross. AFC keeper Patrick Matasi could only watch helplessly as the ball rolled into the net.

AFC leopards almost immediately made a reply but Augustine Etemesi blasted over the bar with only the goalmouth at his mercy. Amon Muchiri had brought in a cross from the right with Mike Barasa heading it first time, but keeper Duncan Ochieng’ saved with his legs with Etemesi landing on the rebound.

In the 25th minute, Jonas Nahimana’s free kick after Salim Kinje was fouled went inches wide.

On the half hour mark, Mike Barasa tested Ochieng with a ferocious shot with the shot stopper coming out with a fine save. Juma Abdallah had lost the ball in his own half with Kadenge feeding Barasa.

In the 45th minute, AFC looked like they had scored but Mike Barasa had guided the ball into the net with his arm and after celebrating what he though was a goal, he was rewarded with a yellow card.

Come the second half, Leopards started brightly with Jonas Nahimana making the first attempt.Ten minutes from the restart, the Amavubi defender had a decent long range shot which fell on Mike Barasa’s path. Barasa headed it changing it directions but Duncan Ochieng produced the best out of himself with a great reflex save.Jimmy Bagaye came in for Victor Ochieng who was tightly marked in the whole match and Charles Okwemba came in for Kadenge.

Koops made the attacking subs in a bid to pressurize Sofapaka. It paid dividends and in the 70th minute, Martin Imbalambala struck a long range free kick after being tapped through by Bernard Mang’oli. Keeper Duncan Ochieng was caught off his line and the ball rolled in for AFC fans’ sigh of relief.

The Leopard added more pressure as they sought the equalizer pinning Sofapaka into their own half. However, the Batoto Ba Mungu’s defense line kept their discipline to keep the attacks at bay.

In the first minute of added time, Nahimana was almost grabbing a dramatic late goal but his shot hit the upright.

Sofapaka are now at the top with 32 points while AFC Leopards remain third.

Brian Moseti of Futaa writes:-

After falling to a humbling defeat to Nairobi City Stars in their last Kenyan Premier League match, AFC Ingwe Leopards again went down 1-2 to Sofapaka in their Wednesday 16 May meeting.

In the match, AFC started the stronger side with Bernard Mang’oli threatening Sofapaka’s keeper Duncan Ochieng in the ninth minute. He shot, however, went awry. 

With the clock running, Sofapaka settled into the match and were dominating the affairs by the 13^th minute.

 John Baraza capitalized on the strength to give his side a lead in the 15^th minute, heading in a Musa Mudde cross. 

Towards the half-hour mark, Mike Baraza drove the ball into the Sofapaka yard and pulled a strong shot.

Keeper Ochieng earned his pay, parrying the ball away. 

Baraza was back again in the first minute of first half added time, managing to push the ball into Sofapaka’s net using his hand. 

The deed missed the eye of the center referee, who after consultation ruled out the goal and booked the player.

Coming into the second half AFC’s Mang’oli collided with Sofapaka’s Mudde, leading to the latter being stretchered off, after two minutes on the ground. 

He [Mudde] appeared to have been badly hurt, as he gave up his position to Bob Mugalia.

Coach Jan Koops seeing the urgent need to score, brought in Charles Okwemba and Jimmy Bageya, to replace Victor Ochieng and Oscar Kadenge. 

However, two minutes later, a defensive mix-up awarded John Baraza another chance, which he used effectively, to double his side’s lead.

Eight minutes later, Martin Imbalambala found the ball just outside the Sofapaka Box. He appropriately drove it goalwards and it deflected off Sofapaka’s defenders to land in the dock. 

With the threat of losing the lead looming, Sofapaka sank into defense and shielded it to the end.

After the match, Sofapaka are the tentative champions after the first leg, with five points keeping them away from AFC, who have a match at hand.

Our sister website ingwefans.com writes:-

John Baraza scored two goals in either half for Sofapaka to beat AFC Leopards 2-1 at Nyayo Stadium on Wednesday night. Martin Imbalambala netted Ingwe's consolation goal in the evenly balanced KPL game.

Oscar Kadenge and Benard Mang'oli showed their intent in the early exchanges shooting wide from outside the penalty area.

In the 12th minute, Musa Mudde's cross from right was headed into the net by John Baraza to give Sofapaka an early lead.

Mike Baraza's shot was blocked by Duncan Ochieng's feet for  Augustine Etemesi to shoot wide the rebound.

John Njoroge fouled Salim Kinje  near the area after 20 minutes. Jonas Nahimana took the resultant free kick but shot over the cross bar.

Baraza saw two of his shots saved in the 28th and 37th minutes by the Sofapaka goalie.

Patrick Matasi saved from Abdalla Juma's freekick on 30 minutes as action shifted from end to end.

Hashim Mukhwana was booked for a dangerous tackle on Etemesi. Mang'oli took the freekick but Nahimana could not get his head to it.

Mike Baraza was booked for tapping in a Mang'oli corner by his left hand after 45 minutes and wheeled away in celebration.

The halftime score was 1-0 in favour of Batoto ba Mungu.

Victor Ochieng forced Ochieng to a save on 52 minutes as Ingwe came back from the break is search of goal. Victor and Kadenge were substituted for Jimmy Bageya and Charles Okwemba respectively on 58 minutes.

John Baraza complete a brace on the 64th minute when he capitalised on Jonas Nahimana's blunder to shoot past Matasi. Martin Imbalambala fired a shot from over 25 yards when Mang'oli played him an indirect freekick in the 68th minute.

Etemesi was pulled for Francis Chinjili as Jan Koops looked to add strength to his attack. Ingwe could not equalise as Mike Baraza was once again denied in the 92nd minute.

Sofapaka are now four points clear of second placed Tusker and 5 points ahead of Leopards but both Tusker and Ingwe have a match in hand. Ingwe have now 8, drawn 3 and lost 3.

KPL website writes:-

John Baraza has such predatory instincts that when you lose concentration on him you suffer the consequences. For failing to tie him up, Leopards were down in the 15th minute when Baraza squeezed through space in the six-yard box to head in a Musa Mudde cross for 1-0.

It was from some inept defending that Baraza was to hit in his second goal in the 61st minute. It was against the run of play when he controlled the ball in box, turned before shooting past Leopards’ ‘keeper Patrick Matasi.

Leopards coach Jan Koops complained about the defensive errors that let Baraza through.

“ We dominated the second half, but you do not gift a person of John Baraza’s calibre with even half opportunities. He knows what to do.

Baraza won the 2010 top scorer’s “Golden Boot” with 15 goals and it appears if he was to win it this time he will surpass that number. On a leading 12 goals in the first leg, he’d be confident about scoring more than three goals in the second period.

Leopards created chances even though the reward was only Martin Imbalambala’s consolation in the 70th minute.

Sofapaka did the early running in the match holding more possession before Baraza’s opener.

But Leopards had good response and Augustine Etemesi should have done better than blast over the bar with a yawning goalmouth at his mercy. After an overlapping Amon Muchiri brought in a cross from the right, Mike Baraza headed in but Sofapaka ‘keeper Duncan Ochieng’ saved with his legs presenting the rebound to Etemesi.

In the 25th minute Salim “Kinje” Ramadhan was fouled and Jonas Nahimana’s free- kick for Leopards went inches wide. On the half hour mark, Mike Baraza tested Ochieng’ with a ferocious shot but the ‘keeper made a fine save.

In the second half, Leopards started brightly, and after 10 minutes Nahimana’s long ball fell well up front for Mike Baraza to head in but Ochieng’s save was spectacular. Jimmy Bagaye came in for Victor Ochieng’ and Charles Okwemba for Oscar Kadenge. The substitutes added bite in the Leopards’ attack and weighed in on Imbalambala’s score.

It came from a Bernard Mang’oli short tap of a free-kick to Imbalambala who hit first time and this time Ochieng’ was caught off his line for the ball to rolled in.

From then on Leopards mounted do-or-die pressure but Sofapaka kept their discipline to ride it out. In the first minute of added time, Nahimana’s booming shot was kept away by the upright.

This match saw Leopards return to league action after Football Kenya Federation cancelled the one against Sony Sugar on the weekend. The FKF had moved in to put Leopards under an interim “administration” following a court case that barred the current club officials from executing their duties. The federation argued that the club, without office bearers in place, did not have the capacity to ensure security during the match.

On Tuesday, FKF appointed a committee to handle Leopards affairs until the club’s administrative woes are sorted out. The FKF appointed committee’s first mandate was to supervise the Wednesday match and comprised: Hussein Terry, Doris Petra, Patrick Naggi, Jack Oguda, Lillian Nzile and the Leopards’ team a management.

TEAMS:

SOFAPAKA - 39. Duncan Ochieng’: 15. Hashim Mukwana, 8. Juma Abdalla, 40. Eugene Asike, 5. Edgar Ochieng’, 20. Humphrey Ochieng’ Mieno, 14. James Situma (captain), 25. Musa Mudde, 21. John Njoroge, 11. Anthony Kimani, 12. John Baraza

Reserves - 29. David Okelo, Gk; 10. Robert Binja, 9. Bob Mugalia, 22. Heretier Luvualu, 35. Felly Mulumba, 30. Joseph Nyaga, 19. John Omani

Scorer - 12. John Baraza (15’, 61’)

Coach - Salim Ali

AFC LEOPARDS - 1. Patrick Matasi: 14. Amon Muchiri, 3. Abbasi Kiwalabye, 4. Martin Imbalambala (captain), 17. Jonas Nahimana, 22. Bernard Mang’oli, 12. Augustine Etemesi, 18. Salim “Kinje” Ramadhan, 34. Victor Ochieng’ (50. Jimmy Bagaye), 11. Mike Baraza, 7. Oscar Kadenge ( 10. Charles Okwemba)

Reserves - 19. Barnabas Tiema, Gk; 26. Robert Syongo, 5. Edwin Wafula, 30. Samuel “Misse” Mwangi, 15. Francis Chinjili

Score - 4. Martin Imbalambala (70’)

Coach - Jan Koops [The Netherlands]



Here is the table - courtesy KPL website