AFC Leopards end Kenya Police's impeccable form to get Gor Mahia closer to sealing the title

AFC Leopards brought Kenya Police’s impeccable run of unbeaten form under Salim Babu to an end with a 1-0 win  in a match that took place at the Dandora Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

A 73rd minute strike by Victor Omune was enough to see off the Law Enforcers, whose run of 16 unbeaten games in all competitions under Babu’s stewardship was brought to an end.

The result effectively means they have left the door open for Gor Mahia to get one step closer to sealing the title, as a win would otherwise have put them just six points behind the 20-time league champions on 57 points.

Leopards will next face Police in the semi-finals of the FKF Cup on 26th May.

Both teams took a cautious approach to testing each other out. In the fifth minute, a well  taken  corner by Cliffton Miheso was well claimed by Patrick Matasi.

For the next 20 minutes, both sides barely tested each other out. However, Police created a good opportunity when Francis Kahata released Clinton Kinanga through on goal, which forced sweeper keeper  Levis Opiyo to come off his line to make a timely save.

Leopards would however start finding their groove and in the 30th minute, Boniface Munyendo tried  to volley at Matasi who had gotten way off his line but his effort went wide.

In the 42nd minute, Hassan Beja was next to attempt an effort at goal, but it went wide off target. 

There was a temporary near-scare for Ingwe again just before the break after the Law Enforcers created a very good opportunity to finally take the lead, but  Gideon Were made a timely interception to keep the score goalless heading into the break.

After the break, the game continued being scratchy and dull, with very few and far between chances created on either side. By the 57th minute, Leopards boss Thomas Trucha had seen enough, and opted to bring on both Victor Omune and Victor Otieno for Hassan Beja and Clifton Miheso to break the deadlock.

He would also make more changes some ten minutes later, bringing in on-form pair of Kayci Odhiambo and Brian Wanyama. They proved to be inspirational changes, as Omune would find the target in the 73rd minute to send the attending Ingwe supporters into delirium.

In the end, that goal would prove decisive as it now means Leopards have broken into fifth place on 47 points. Police drop to third on 54 points.

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AFC Leopards XI: Levis Opiyo, Radi Bakari, Kennedy Owino, VIncent Mahiga, Gideon Were, Boniface Kweyu, Musa Oundo, Clifton MIheso, Jaffari Owiti, Beja Hassan, Arthur Gitego

Subs: Humprey Katasi, Max Muchesia, Kaycie Odhiambo, Washington Munene, Kevin Kimani, Victor Omune, Brian Wanyama, Luke Namanda, Brian Wanyama, Lewis Bandi, Brian Yakhama, Hassan Beja

Kenya Police XI: Patrick Matasi, Baraka Badi, Abud Omar, Brian Okoth, Musa Mohamed, Marvine Nabwire, Francis Kahata,Tyson Otieno, Clinton Kinanga, David Owino

Subs; John Ochieng, Yusuf Mainge, David Ochieng, Patillah Omotto, Duncan Otieno, Charles Ouma, Samuel Onyango, Rashid Mchelenga, David Okoth