Posta Rangers' inspiring performance in the second-half proved pivotal as they beat Nzoia Sugar to maintain their lead at the top of the FKFPL table ahead of the international break.
Posta Rangers continued their fine start to the new league season with a win over Nzoia Sugar, beating them 2-0 in a thrilling FKFPL match played at the Kasarani Annex on Friday afternoon.
Nzoia Sugar resorted to taking advantage of set-piece situations in the opening stages of the match in the opening five minutes, with the game a damp squib.
The Sugar Millers had the opportunity to go ahead in the eighth minute, but Emmanuel Osoro’s long-range shot was easy for Posta custodian John Njau to deal with.
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Osoro nearly put the ball into his own net in the 13th minute when Rangers finally got going and created their second real move of the game, but the ball sailed just wide of the net.
The league leaders continued trying to create chances, and moments later, had an opportunity when Felix Oluoch was found in the area after a good cross by Caleb Olilo, but hit the ball just wide.
In the 25th minute, Osoro had another chance to put the visitors ahead, but his effort went just wide of the bar.
Posta were finding it hard to create chances of meaningful quality with wingers Caleb Olilo and Curtis Wekesa completely marked out of the game and struggling to create one-on-one situations to stretch the Nzoia defense. It was hardly any surprise that the only real chances came from set pieces.
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One came In the 40th minute, Posta Rangers created a dead ball situation in an effort to go ahead. Titus Achesa flung in an inswinging left-footed ball from the corner kick spot into Nzoia’s box, but captain Kennedy Onyango could only send the ball wide.
In the 50th minute, Posta coach John Kamau resorted to making a change, taking off Wekesa for ex-AFC Leopards winger Peter Thiong’o to try and go ahead. Nzoia coach Godfrey ‘Solo’ Oduor also made changes of his own, bringing on Ndete Aineah and Haki Victor for Osoro and Daniel Wafula respectively.
The changes proved to make the game more end-to-end. First, Vincent Wasambo attempted a shot towards Bernard Onunga’s net, forcing the Nzoia shot-stopper into an excellent save.
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Moments later, Nzoia nearly had a chance of their own when Haki delivered a dangerous cutback that almost got Posta captain Kennedy Owino into putting the ball into his own net.
Rangers would finally break the deadlock through Owino who made amends by almost embarrassing himself to put the ball into the back of the net through a bullet header after a well-taken corner kick by Achesa.
Rangers would then put the game to bed when they scored their second goal after their sustained pressure from the front forced Nzoia Sugar into turning over possession needlessly, which Brian Otieno took full advantage of to put the ball into the back of the net in the 84th minute.
Rangers have now moved up to 16 points, maintaining first place after six games played.
06:30 - 06.10.2023
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