Western Stima battled for a hard-fought 3-2 victory over AFC Leopards who have proved to be a point dispensing machine for the Powermen in a Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) clash staged at the Nakuru ASK Grounds.Ingwe came into the clash with a depleted squad that has been wilting under the tight fixture schedule as some of the players were out through injury, contractual disputes and three in the CECAFA Under 23 tournament. Stima on the other hand were seeking to free themselves from the shackles of relegation as they were hovering perilously close to the drop zone following a turbulent season.The Powermen were on the ascendency from the onset and made their early dominance count in the 13th minute as they capitalized on a litany of defensive mishaps from the Leopards backline.FULL TIME Western Stima 3 AFC Leopards 2⚽️ Collins Shivachi ⚽️ Bonface Mukhekhe #OursForever #INGWE— AFC Leopards (@AFCLeopards) July 20, 2021 A long ball troubled Robert Mudenyu as his header went high but lacked the distance which Michael Karamor headed as far as Rodgers Ouma who clashed with Mudenyu for the ball that fell again to Karamor to tap home.Patrick Aussems’ charges were rattled by the goal and before the dust could settle on Stima’s lead they grabbed a second when referee Simon Ogange pointed to the spot after Mudenyu handled in the penalty area.Baron Oketch stepped up to take the penalty and just as he did against Gor Mahia, he held his nerve to send the goalkeeper the wrong way and slot home the ball in the 15th minute.After a torrid start to the game, the situation went from bad to worse for Mudenyu who pulled out of the game in the 24th minute with an injury as Harrison Mwendwa was brought into his place.AFC Leopards came into the second half a much-changed side with Aussems half time team talk looked to have worked its magic with Caleb Olilo and Elvis Rupia coming close to pulling one back in the opening 10 minutes of the closing half.Stima were denied a third courtesy of a superb save from an outstretched John Oyemba who parried curling effort from Karamor that threatened to find the top corner.HALF TIME We head to the break trailing by two early first half Western Stima goalsWestern Stima 2 AFC Leopards 0#OursForever #INGWE— AFC Leopards (@AFCLeopards) July 20, 2021 Leopards withdrew substitute Mwendwa for Dan Sunguti in the 78th minute and the youngster almost announced his presence instantly when he received a neat through ball from Olilo but his shot was saved by the on-rushing Richard Aimo.The torrential downpour in the second half made the game see limited chances as both teams struggled to gain some control in the game.Ingwe pulled one back in the 88th minute as it has been customary for Stima to concede a late goal this time, Peter Thiong’o floated in a corner that was headed by Olilo but Aimo reacted brilliantly to parry the ball as far as Collins Shivachi who rifled the ball into the roof of the net. Stima however restored their two-goal cushion in the 92nd minute courtesy of a cheap freekick that was conceded when Isaac Kipyegon was judged to have brought down Karamor.Geoffrey Ojunga opted to go for a thunderbolt that proved too hot to handle for Oyemba who despite his best efforts to keep the ball out he palmed the ball into his own net.Just when Stima thought that the game was over, Leopards grabbed their second in the 93rd minute when Kipyegon pinged a long ball from his own half that was headed by Edwin Omondi as far as Boniface Mukhekhe whose hot got past Aimo.The referee blew the final whistle immediately after much to the protest of Ingwe players who felt some few minutes should have been added.
