Cup shocker: Police FC dumped out by underdogs Mara Sugar in penalty thriller

Mara Sugar struck early, taking the lead in the 10th minute from a set-piece. Fredrick Ng’iela’s low free kick deflected off the wall and slipped through goalkeeper Emmanuel Erupe’s legs, falling kindly for Dennis Cheruyiot, who calmly slotted the ball into the net.

The underdogs nearly doubled their advantage in the 24th minute when Noah Jagongo set up Brian Ochieng for a powerful effort, but Police keeper Job Ochieng pulled off a superb reflex save to keep his side in the game.

Police FC found the equaliser in the 30th minute. Mara goalkeeper Evans Omondi misjudged a corner from Mohammed Bajaber, punching it straight to Brian Okoth, who unleashed a thunderous left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Mara were dealt a setback five minutes later when goal-scorer Dennis Cheruyiot went down injured and was replaced by Erick Juma.

Police FC's woes deepened in the 75th minute when David ‘Cheche’ Ochieng, already on a yellow card, deliberately handled the ball while on the ground after slipping. The referee showed him a second yellow, reducing Police to ten men for the remainder of the match.

With no further goals in regulation time, the match went straight to penalties, a marathon shootout that saw 22 spot-kicks taken.

Police started strong, with Clinton Kinanga and Duncan Ochieng converting their penalties. But the momentum shifted when Bajaber missed the target and Lameck Omondi struck the woodwork. Mara capitalised, with Ng’iela and Samuel Otieno among those holding their nerve to keep the scores level.

At 8-8, Kinanga, who had scored the opening penalty for Police, stepped up again, but this time, Evans Omondi saved his effort. Fredrick Ng’iela, already a key figure in the match, sealed the victory by confidently converting Mara’s final penalty, sending the holders crashing out.