KICOSCA Games: Amalla bags a treble as Ugatuzi mill Meru

John Amalla scored a hat-trick as five-star Ugatuzi football team rallied to edge Meru County 5-1 at the KICOSCA Games on Tuesday at the Kericho Teachers Training College grounds in Kericho County.

Meru went 1-0 up in the 29th minute after Emmanuel Okumu dribbled past the defenders and perfectly placed the ball into the right side of the net before Ugatuzi’s John Amalla applied a simple tap in on Benard Wire cross to level the scores, two minutes before the half time whistle.

It was all square at the half-time but Ugatuzi went up 2-1 in the 54th minute after Amalla tapped in a swift cross from Antony Mwaniki before Mwaniki made a lone run and placed the ball to the right side of the net beating the shot-stopper on a one-on-one situation to make it 3-1.

Amalla completed his hat-trick netting from the penalty spot after shot-stopper Gitonga fouled Ugatuzi’s Mwaniki, Amalla placing the ball to furthest corner beating Gitonga to set the score board at 4-1.

Ugatuzi completed their rout after Gitonga failed to stop a simple tap in from Ugatuzi’s mifielder Mwaniki.

Bernard Wire was a budding influence for Ugatuzi in the opening minutes, his penetrating runs and shot almost giving them an early lead but Meru County shot-stopper punched out his effort.