AFC Leopards dropped further down the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) standings after their loss to Ulinzi Stars at Afraha Stadium on Sunday 30th September, a result that has been blamed on missed chances.
The team fell 1 – 2 in the game, a round 33 clash with Tom Juma standing in as coach following the suspension of Rodolfo Zapata at the close of the 32nd round of matches, which had Leopards go down heavily to Tusker.
Juma says their loss to Ulinzi was occasioned by a failure to make use of the chances they created as well as a poor defensive output especially when faced with set pieces and crosses.
“We may have lost the game, but the boys played well. We did not make use of our chances and I think that is why we lost. We created more chances than Ulinzi Stars, especially in the second half and we got the equalizer as we wanted but then again we defended so poorly set pieces and crosses,” he said.
A third straight loss in the league, and fourth overall, saw Leopards drop to sixth place on the log with 51 points from 33 matches.
With both teams coming from losing outings, it was Ulinzi Stars who showed early resolve to end the bad streak and a speedy dash forward by Omar Boraafya was checked ineligibly by Baker Lukooya for a foul on the left.
Oliver Ruto stepped up to take the free kick and picked out Nandwa whose first touch wrong footed the Leopards defence, exposing keeper Edwin Mukolwe and beating him was never a hustle and in no time, the midfielder was celebrating his 12th goal of the season.
Shortly afterwards, Masita Masuta rose well to head a cross in by Oliver Ruto but he crashed the effort on the bar and Nandwa feebly headed a cross in by Daniel Waweru as Ulinzi Stars sought a second.
The tide would however turn when Leopards forward Whyvonne Isuza got an open chance from a counter attack but that was smothered by James Saruni who rushed off his line to deny him space and in the end cleared the danger.
Isuza had another fortuitous moment with the ball somehow finding him waiting in the danger area and instead of taking his time, he opted for a first time shot, which flew wide.
The second half served its fair share of great football as both sides went for the jugular. Hassan Mohamed went close for Ulinzi from a corner with a ferocious shot that flew just inches wide and on the other end a fine curling shot from Duncan Otieno bounced off the post to beat Saruni for Leopards’ equalizer.
Enosh missed a golden chance midway through the second half after Salim Abdalla fluffed a clearance only for the forward to hit wide.The match seemed headed for a 1 – 1 draw.
Enosh however atoned for his miss in the winning goal after good timing to head in Cliff Kasuti’s cross to see Ulinzi overtake AFC Leopards on the KPL standings.