Defender Robert Mudenyu scored early in the second half to give a desperate Ingwe the lead before substitute Peter Thiong’o added the second to seal the three points and exact revenge against Bandari who beat them 2-1 in the first leg encounter in Mombasa.With the win, Ingwe cemented their position in third as they took their points tally to 43 while Bandari, who are now without a win in three games, dropped one place to eighth on 33 points.Bandari head coach Andre Casa Mbungo decried his team’s wastefulness in front of goal whenever they had chances, in the end those mistakes costing his team.”We should have killed off the game in the first half when we had our chances. They came out in the second and utilized theirs and that is how they managed to win the game. We will need to work on our set pieces which have been our achilles heel in recent matches,” the head coach said.Ingwe head coach was left impressed with gow the relatively new boys in the squad stepped up when needed”The team changed a lot because of issues but they proved themselves because I had a lot of trust in them. Apart from small mistakes I am proud of how they played today’s game,”Coming into the match, Leopards head coach Patrick Aussems rang the changes in the starting lineup as midfielder Brian Wanyama and Ezekiel Owade got their first league start in the game. Key members Clyde Senaji, Lewis Bandi and Austin Odhiambo also missing out from the starting eleven.It is the visitors who quickly got off the blocks as they pushed foward hoping to capitalize on an untested Ingwe lineup that had been paraded for duty.Despite Bandari having the brightest start in the game it is Ingwe’s Harrison Mwendwa who, against the run of play, posed the first and earliest danger on goal.Upon beating Siraj Mohammed with his quick feet, the dimunitive winger unleashed a low drive to the keeper’s near post but an alert Justin Ndikumana in the Dockers goal dived smartly and in time to smother the attempt.Both sides then gradually grew into the game but chances were few and far in between but Ingwe keeper Ezekiel Owade – who had been thrust into the Leopards starting eleven courtesy of first and second choice goalkeepers, Benjamin Ochan and John Oyemba, running down their contracts with the club as the per the official club’s statement – was called into making his first real save of the match in the 38th minute when Darius Msagha hit his straight at him.Lack of accuracy and creative ingenuity in the final third from both teams saw the game drag to half time with the deadlock intact.Just one minute upon second half’s resumption, Nigerian trialist Marvin Nabwire attempted a cheeky lob over the goalkeeper who had stepped further from his goal line but quick recovery ensured the Burundian custodian amended for his blunder as he tipped the ball out for a corner.The resulting corner, floated in by Mwendwa in the 47th minute led to the opening goal of the game as an instinctive Robert Mudenyu pounced on a poor clearance from the Bandari unit, the defender who had been handed a rare start repaying the coach with his first career goal at the club as he gave his side the lead.The goal came as a blessing as the game opened up and allowed room for attacking vulnerability. Bandari took up the opportunity as they had no choice but to chase. While they were busy attacking, Ingwe hit them with a direct counter attack. Ingwe felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the 50th minute when Felly Mulumba appeared to have brought down Rupia in the box but centre referee waved play on much to the frustration of the Ingwe bench.Striker William Wadri missed a glorious chance to restore parity in the game as he flicked his header wide off target following an inch perfect delivery that fell solely onto him after beating the Ingwe defenders.The coastal side would be made to rue that costly mistake as substitute Peter Thiong’o made an instant impact off the bench when he rose highest to nod in a beautifully floated Washington Munene cross into the area.
