- Mara Sugar rally thrice to hold Kakamega Homeboyz, extending their poor run to seven winless matches in the SportPesa League.
- The match was played at Bukhungu Stadium on Saturday, January 31, and ended in a thrilling 3–3 draw.
- Glen Masava and Nassor Shikokoti both scored own goals for their respective sides.
Mara Sugar came from behind thrice to secure a hard-fought away point against Kakamega Homeboyz, in a thrilling 3–3 SportPesa League draw at Bukhungu Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The match featured two own goals, one for each team. Glen Masava netted the final equalizer for his side, after they had initially taken the lead through Nassor Shikokoti who also unfortunately headed into his own net.
The result extended Mara Sugar’s winless streak to seven league matches, while Homeboyz dropped points for the second game running after defeat to Bandari Fc.
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Mara Sugar rally twice to hold Kakamega Homeboyz
After wasting a couple of early opportunities, Homeboyz went ahead in the eighth minute from the penalty spot.
Oliver Machaka was brought down in the box by a Mara Sugar defender Shikokoti, and Potiphar Odhiambo calmly converted the spot-kick to open the scoring.
They missed another clear chance six minutes later on a counterattack, with Peter Thiong’o firing over the bar after Henry Omollo’s cross found him in space, as the hosts continued to control the game.
Mara Sugar responded with an early tactical tweak in the 19th minute, coach Edward Manoah withdrawing Joseph Okwenda for Kevin Longbert.
The change paid off almost immediately. Just two minutes later, Mara drew level after a slick move that saw Aineah Ndete switch play from the centre to the right.
Alex Imbusia drove into the box and calmly guided a low shot past Simon Masaka to make it 1–1 and spark life into the contest.
Homeboyz pushed to regain the advantage, but the first half ended level.
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After the break, the hosts remained on the front foot in search of a goal. They squandered another opportunity in the 50th minute when Machaka’s chipped volley sailed over.
Six minutes later, however, they did double their lead.
Boniface Onyango curled in a superb corner from the right, and Machaka having missed several chances, made amends with a powerful header.
Just as Abana Abeingo thought they had sealed it, the Sugar men struck back.
In the 63rd minute, Jimmy Owili floated a deep cross into the box that evaded Masaka and found Timothy Ndayala, whose precise header leveled the score again.
In a twist of misfortune for the visitors, Kakamega Homeboyz restored their lead in the 71st minute- this time through an own goal.
Moses Mudavadi’s driven cross from the left was inadvertently headed into his own net by Nassor Shikokoti.
But the drama was not over.
Three minutes later, Mara Sugar pressed aggressively and won a corner on the right. Owili’s delivery caused chaos in the box, with the Homeboyz goalkeeper failing to clear convincingly.
The loose ball fell to Glen Masava, who accidentally turned it into his own net to make it 3–3.
Both teams showed equal resolve in the closing stages but couldn’t find a winner, settling for a point each in a six-goal spectacle.
Kakamega Homeboyz vs Mara Sugar Lineups
- Kakamega Homeboyz: Simon Masaka, Silas Abungana, Boniface Onyango, Potipher Odhiambo, Peter Thiong’o, Henry Omollo, Glen Masava, Moses Mudavadi, Rodgers Ouma, John Omondi, Oliver Machaka
- Mara Sugar: Joseph Ogenda, Joseph Kwenda, Nassor Shikokoti, Robinson Musungu, Jimmy Owili, Kalvin Mwavali, Thomas Harun, Aineah Ndete, Dennis Cheruiyot, Alex Imbusia, Timothy Ndayala