• FOOTBALL

• Frank Rotich 3 days ago

AFC Leopards claw gap on leaders Gor Mahia after win over Mara Sugar

AFC Leopards have revived their faint Kenyan Premier League title hopes after a narrow but crucial 2-1 victory over Mara Sugar, cutting Gor Mahia’s lead at the top to just six points.

The win keeps the pressure on league leaders Gor Mahia, who still have a game in hand against in-form Kenya Police on Sunday. Leopards, commonly known as Ingwe, now sit on 58 points and remain in the hunt for their first league title since 1998.

The match started brightly for AFC Leopards, who dominated early possession and quickly put Mara Sugar FC under pressure. Their early intensity paid off in the 13th minute when Hassan Beja smashed home a powerful strike from the edge of the box after a smart assist from James Kinyanjui.

However, the lead did not last long. Mara Sugar responded in the 30th minute when captain Daniel Openda calmly converted a penalty to level the scores at 1-1.

The second half remained tense and evenly balanced, with both sides creating chances. Mara Sugar came close to taking the lead but wasted key opportunities in front of goal.

Leopards made their pressure count in the 61st minute when Victor Omune reacted fastest inside the box to fire home what turned out to be the winning goal, despite protests from Mara players claiming offside.

Mara Sugar pushed hard for an equaliser late in the game but were denied by poor finishing and solid defending from Leopards.

At full-time, AFC Leopards held on for a 2-1 victory, keeping their title hopes alive in the Premier League.

For Mara Sugar, the defeat ends a strong run of form, including three consecutive wins and clean sheets.

Leopards now shift their focus to the remaining fixtures, hoping Gor Mahia slip in their upcoming matches as the title race intensifies.