Akwana all smiles as Sofapaka complete KPL double over Ulinzi

Sofapaka coach Ezekiel Akwana/CHARLENE MALWA

Coach Ezekiel Akwana was all smiles after Sofapaka pipped Ulinzi Stars 1-0 at the Ulinzi Sports Complex Friday afternoon.

The win completed a season double over the soldiers, whom they beat 4-1 in the December reverse fixture.

“I am happy with the result. We played well today and I’m proud of the determination the boys showed,” Akwana said.

“Collecting maximum points away is never easy. Hopefully, we will carry the momentum into our next assignment.”

Ulinzi head coach Danston Nyaudo berated his players for losing at home.

“We had a perfect chance to nail a win, but we failed to capitalise on the numerous chances we created in both halves,” he said.

“We should find ways of leveraging home advantage in the future. I think we were the better team, though.”

The winning goal was scored by Bramwel Simiyu in the 40th minute following a long throw-in from Baron Ochieng. Simiyu outmuscled his marker, Bildad Abonga, to poke the ball past Issa Emuria.

Sofapaka had a chance just before the opener, but Victor Okello headed a Humphrey Mieno freekick wide and Wayne Otieno struck the post at the half.

The outcome is painful for the home team, who created some incredible chances but lost for the fourth consecutive game. Ulinzi now has 10 losses.

Javan Omondi had one such chance when he cut inside the box from the right but sailed his curler far over Edward Olak’s goal.

Staphod Odhiambo’s ambitious first-half strike was punched out at the near post and failed to get past the Sofapaka goalkeeper twice in either half.

Further illustrating their lack of luck on a calm afternoon, the striker was judged to have handled the ball when he made one kick into the net deep into first-half stoppage time.

Early in the second half, Abonga’s strong defence stopped the visitors from doubling the lead.

Sofapaka move to seventh place on the log, while Ulinzi remain just four points from the drop.