Goals from Elvis Rupia and Bienveneu Shaka enabled AFC Leopards overcome an in-form Wazito FC 2-1 in a Betking Premier League match played at the Utalii grounds on Saturday June 26, 2021.
Wazito took took the lead in the first half through Micheal Owino but a ring of changes in the second half ensured that Patrick Aussems Leopards got the vital points after the devastating 1-0 loss to Mathare United on Wednesday.
AFC Leopards began the match on a high, winning three consecutive corners inside the first two minutes, pegging their opponents in their own half.
Austin Odhiambo nearly broke the deadlock in the 12th minute but he was denied by the crossbar. Musa Masika came close for Wazito in the 33rd minute 33rd minute when he sped past the Ingwe defence but his curling effort went wide.
Slow reaction by the Ingwe defence after a Benjamin Ochan spill off a Kevin Kimani free-kick granted Michael Owino with an easy chance and he slotted home to give Wazito the win.
In the second half, Patrick Aussems brought in Clyde Senaji for Isaac Kipyegon and Elvis Rupia for Austin Odhiambo and this sparked life in the Leopards and they finally got the breakthrough through Burundi import Shaka with Rupia sinking the dagger on his former side with a 90th minute penalty.
At the Thika stadium, it was a rude shock for reining champions Gor Mahia as they lost 2-1 to relegation threatened Western Stima to drop third on the log and ultimately out of contention for a place in next season’s CAF Champions League.
In other fixtures, Mathare United remained rooted to the bottom of the table after losing 2-1 to Posta Rangers while title title hopefuls KCB played to a 0-0 draw with Kakamega Homeboyz in Nakuru,
Tusker FC remained top of the league with 44 points, one ahead of KCB and will represent Kenya in the Champions League should they beat Ulinzi Stars in Narok on Wednesday. KCB on the other hand will host Nzoia Sugar in Nairobi.