- AFC Leopards edge out Nairobi United 1-0 to return to winning ways in the SportPesa League encounter.
- The rescheduled fixture was played on Wednesday, March 18, at Nyayo National Stadium.
- Samuel Ssenyonjo scored the decisive first-half goal from a precise assist by Tyson Otieno.
Samuel Ssenyonjo’s first-half goal ensured AFC Leopards eked out a narrow 1-0 home victory against Nairobi United in their rescheduled SportPesa League encounter played on Wednesday afternoon at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Ingwe needed nothing short of the maximum points in this fixture to get themselves back to winning ways.
Their title ambitions had taken a hit in Round 24 over the weekend when they lost 4-1 to Mathare United at the same venue, which allowed their rivals and table-toppers Gor Mahia to open the points gap to ten points.
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AFC Leopards edge out Nairobi United 1-0
Although the match was not particularly captivating, Ingwe fashioned an early opportunity in the second minute.
Boniface Munyendo spotted Samuel Ssenyonjo on the right wing, but the forward, one-on-one with Kevin Odour, failed to deliver a well-weighted effort, resulting in no real danger. They followed it up with another promising move that ultimately came to nothing.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 12th minute, and it was the hosts who managed to break the deadlock.
Ssenyonjo made amends for his earlier miss when Tyson Otieno cleverly slipped a pass between the Nairobi United defense. Ssenyonjo brought it under control and fired home with his right foot to give his side the lead.
The rather uneventful contest saw limited attacking threat from both teams, with Nairobi United’s best chance coming in the 38th minute.
Humphrey Katasi produced a fine save to deny Kevin Wangaya’s free-kick, which resulted in a corner. Lennox Ogutu came close to equalising, but the woodwork denied him.
Ingwe were very close to doubling their lead in the final minutes of the first half. Ssenyonjo managed to flick a cross on to Tyson, who dribbled skillfully inside the box, only for his shot to rattle the woodwork and deny them once again. Ingwe went into the break narrowly leading.
The second half saw both sides try to create chances, but nothing fell their way, even after they made substitutions that could have altered the match.
The result means Ingwe have narrowed the points gap with Gor Mahia to just seven points. Meanwhile, Nairobi United’s seventh loss of the season leaves them in ninth place with 33 points.
AFC Leopards vs Nairobi United SportPesa League Round 19 Rescheduled Fixture Lineups
- AFC Leopards: Humphrey Katasi, Fredrick Alushula, Randi Bakri, Lasso Coulibaly, Samuel Semo, Mousa Oundo, Tyson Otieno, Bonface Munyendo, James Kinyanjui, Samuel Ssenyonjo, Ronald Bebeto.
- Nairobi United: Kevin Odour, Yusuf Mainge, Kepha Wanjala, Lennox Ogutu, Lesley Otieno, Brian Magare, Enock Machaka, Kevin Wangaya, Benso Omalla, Hakizimana Muhadjir, Kevin Osanya.