Bungoma Stars surprised Sofapaka with early lead, but Sofapaka's resilience forced thrilling penalty shootout in FKF Cup showdown.
Sofapaka head coach Zedekiah 'Zico' Otieno was nearly embarrassed after his team needed a penalty shootout to beat Bungoma Stars and end the Division Two outfit's fairytale FKF Cup run at the Round of 16 stage.
Sofapaka won 5-4 on penalties at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Kisumu on Saturday.
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Bungoma quickly unsettled the Sofapaka defense in the third minute, forcing goalkeeper Victor Augo into committing an offense inside the area. Referee Patrick Omondi awarded the side a penalty which Meshack Makokha converted for the opener.
After a collision with Makokha, Augo was replaced by Levis Ojuoka as Sofapaka made their first substitution of the match.
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Five minutes later, Bungoma Stars goalkeeper Geoffrey Nyongesa was called into action by Darius Msagha.
The shot-stopper was alert and pulled off a brilliant save at the near post to deny the former Bandari marksman.
Bungoma grew in confidence as the match progressed and Wycliffe Wanyonyi was a busy man upfront.
The experienced forward forced Sofapaka goalkeeper Ojoka into a good save with a dangerous cross minutes before the half-hour mark.
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Sofapaka had a chance of scoring an equalizer as the ball fell to Thomas Kakaire who was set up by Humphrey Mineo with a header.
Bungoma continued to see most of the ball after taking the lead and actively searched for their second goal of the match. Their moment arrived in the 36th minute when Wycliffe Wanyonyi joined Makokha on the goal scorers list.
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Following a lapse in concentration inside the Batoto ba Mungu backline, Joseph Kuloba dribbled past Ojuoka before sending a cross into the area that was sent into the back of the net by Wanyonyi.
Bungoma Stars continued to dominate after the restart and Kuloba forced Nyongesa into a save in the 54th minute.
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Meshack Makokha, who was having a good game, played a dangerous cross into the box after the hour-mark, but Ojuoka was alert and he made a decent save.
Sofapaka managed to pull one into the back of the net when skipper Humphrey Mieno sent a thunderous shot from outside the box that easily beat Geoffrey Nyongesa, making it 2-1.
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With time running out, Batoto ba Mungu did threaten through Darius Msagha in the 76th minute, but the striker was denied by goalkeeper Nyongesa.
Paul Odhiambo was introduced by Sofapaka coach Zedekiah Otieno in the closing stages of the game and managed to find the net with a powerful header, making it 2-2.
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Neither side could find a winning goal in the closing stages, which forced the game into a penalty shoot-out, where Sofapaka held their nerve to triumph 4-3 in the shoot-out, with Ojuoga saving one spot-kick.
How they lined up:
Bungoma Stars: Geoffrey Nyongesa, Reagan Osigo, Mophat Kovelo, Daniel Mapingo, Reagan Okoth, Derrick Tekkwo, Vinedine Ambesa, Danstan Barasa, Joseph Kuloba, Meshack Makokha, Wycliffe Wanyonyi.
Substitutes: Sidney Kinyanjui, Daniel Wafula, John Ouma, Julius Mukolwe, Emmanuel Amweke, Lewis Wanami, Daniel Eliya
Sofapaka: Victor Augo, Vincent Oluoch, Derrick Ngoobi, Roy Okal, Humphey Mieno, Aaron Kithae, Thomas Kakaire, Andre Kalama, Baron Ochieng, Darius Masagha, Jacob Onyango.
Substitutes: Levis Ojuoka, Ochola Maqbul, Finlay Osoro, Austine Wahongo, Keagan Ndemi, Sheif Batte, Paul Odhiambo, Rodgers Kipkemoi