Both teams lost their matches on Thursday. Leopards went down 2-0 to KCB while Mathare United suffered a 4-1 defeat in the hands of Wazito FC at the same venue. Newboy Dani Lual, Kevin Kimani and Tyson Otieno scored the goals for Mathare while Boniface Mukhekhe grabbed the consolation for Ingwe.
Leopards looked strong in the opening stages of the game and in the 7th minute Whyvonne Isuza missed a sitter shooting over the bar with an empty net at his mercy. Malian striker Ismaila Diarra saw his low drive narrowly go wide moments later.
Mathare looked dangerous in the final third with Kevin Kimani, James Kinyanjui and Dani Lual looking causing AFC Leopards backline problems with their menacing runs.
Against the run of play, Dani Lual gave Mathare United the lead in the 21st minute after a swift counter attacker. The attacker tapped home from a close range after getting to the end of a James Kinyanjui shot cum cross. Both teams had chances to score more but wastefulness saw Mathare take a 1-0 lead to the break.
Ingwe looked lively after the break following the introduction of Hansel Ochieng, Boniface Mukhekhe. They had several attempts on goal but they yielded no fruits.
Lual got his second of the match in the 65th minute getting at the end of a sweeping attacking move to double the Slum Boys’ lead. Boniface Mukhekhe pulled a goal back in the 75th minute with a thunderbolt but the hopes of pulling a comeback were shortlived as Kevin Kimani scored Mathare’s third moments later with a diving header from a David Owino cross. Tyson Otieno then sealed the win with a fourth in the closing stages of the game.
Leopards will play Wazito on Saturday in the final match of the pre-season tournament.