Toothless AFC Leopards early SportPesa League title charge hit the skidss once again after Ingwe dropped crucial points in their goalless away draw against Mara Sugar on Wednesday evening at the Ole Ntiimama Stadium in Narok.
Ingwe have managed just one win in their opening four matches. Despite maintaining their unbeaten run, they have been held to three draws, squandering valuable points and allowing arch-rivals Gor Mahia to open up a six-point lead at the top.
Just two minutes into the game, Ingwe missed a golden opportunity to take an early lead.
Ronald Sichenje threaded a fine through pass to Samwel Ssenyonjo on the left wing, and the Ugandan international unleashed a low, left-footed effort that narrowly missed the target, a costly miss that could have handed his side the advantage.
Mara Sugar had a clearcut opportunity of their own in the 24th minute when Alex Imbusia’s header rattled the woodwork, denying the hosts a chance to break the deadlock.
Moments later, Sichenje whipped in a dangerous cross from the left, but the ball carried too much pace for Adama Kanteh to tap home as Ingwe squandered another promising opening.
In the 40th minute, Dennis Cheruiyot came close to giving his side the lead before the break, but his left-footed strike went straight into Tom Ikara’s hands as both sides headed into the interval deadlocked.
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After the restart, neither side had the cutting edge needed to make their chances count.
Ingwe fashioned some clear openings through Adama Kanteh, who failed to find the back of the net, while the Sugar Millers threatened at the other end through Victor Ngume, who also fired off target. Both teams ultimately settled for a goalless stalemate.
Meanwhile, in other Wednesday fixtures, Murang’a SEAL bounced back from last weekend’s Mlima Derby defeat to 3K FC with an emphatic 3-2 victory over Nairobi United at the SportPesa Arena.
Josphat Lopaga bagged a brace to take his tally to six goals in four matches, while Majaliwa Charo added the third to ensure that strikes from Benson Omalla and Michael Karamor were not enough to deny SEAL their second win of the campaign.
The victory condemned big-spending Nairobi United to their first defeat of the season as the NaiBois continued their search for a maiden win after drawing their opening three matches.
Meanwhile, 3K FC failed to build on their Mlima Derby triumph over MSEAL, suffering a 3-0 defeat to APS Bomet at the Raila Odinga Stadium.
Mombasa United’s struggles continued with a 3-0 loss to KCB FC, while their fellow coastal outfit, Bandari FC, played out a goalless draw against Posta Rangers.
Mara Sugar vs AFC Leopards: Round 4 SportPesa League Lineups
- Mara Sugar: Joseph Ogenda, Joseph Okwenda, Sharif Ali, Drona Openda, Prince Ayieko, Kelvin Mwavali, Godrick Kaduka, Kepha Andati, Alex Imbusia, Victor Ngume, Dennis Cheruiyot.
- AFC Leopards: Tom Ikara, Kebinluke Otiala, Kayci Odhiambo, Brian Nyongesa, Vincent Mahiga, Musa Oundo, Boniface Munyendo, Ronald Sichenje, Adama Kanteh, James Kinyanjui, Samwel Ssenyonjo.