Spot-on Mathare edge Leopards to retain KPL U20 title
Mathare United held on to the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Under 20 championship title with a nerve-wracking 4-2 victory on post-match penalties over AFC Leopards after a tight final played at Camp Toyoyo Grounds in Nairobi on Saturday ended all square at 1-1 after extra time.
Midfielder Lennox Ogutu, skipper Ahmed Abdalla, Samuel Semo and David Owino were on target for the junior slum boys during the shoot-out with Erick Kinuthia and Austin Odhiambo firing home for Leopards.
Abdalla struck the opener for Mathare in the 12th minute before striker Odhiambo equalised in the 85th minute to stretch the game to 30 minutes of extra time and ultimately the lottery of penalties when neither team found a breakthrough.
The winners bagged Ksh500,000 with the losing finalists settling for Ksh200,000 from tournament organisers.
Mathare head coach Yussuf Chipo delighted at the back-to-back victories in the age tournament.
“Our journey to victory wasn’t easy but I thank God. Next year, five of my boys won’t play due to age,”he added.
“We lost a lot of chances in the second half but we played a good game,” Leopards boss Boniface Ambani stated.
Earlier, Gor Mahia thumped Sofapaka 3-1 in the third-place play off at the same venue.
Hillary Ojwang from the spot in the 20th and Ibrahim Mao in the 37th traded goals for Gor and Sofapaka in the first half before Nahashon Thiong’o and Wigan Odede powered K’Ogalo to victory in the 78th and 86th minutes of the second half.
Gor striker Ojwang bagged the Golden Boot with six with his team taking home Ksh100,000 for winning bronze.
-Report by Ali Endere
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