The 2009 league champions Sofapaka laboured for their eighth win of the season after rallying from a goal down to beat Nzoia Sugar 2-1 at the Kasarani Annex on Sunday.Two quick goals in quick succession in the second half by Sofapaka who finished with ten men after Lawrence Juma saw red reduced James Kibande’s goal from the spot to a mere consolation.Nzoia head coach Salim Babu lamented on loss of concentration for the loss.”Since I took over the reigns, this is the worst display I have ever seen from my players.We lost concentration as soon as we scored but we will rectify the mistakes before our next game,” he said.There was nothing to write home about the first half of the game as both teams struggled to create clear cut chances and execute their style of play. Nzoia, perhaps in a bid to contain the pressure from Sofapaka made the spaces tight for them and were good on the break but their movement in the final third worked against them. The Sofapaka midfield thrust into life in the second quarter of the game after the substitutes were sent out to warm up and began opening up the stubborn Nzoia defence. The match was halted in the 34th minute when Salim Hamisi and Daniel Guya lunged their heads together while contesting for an aerial ball with the former bearing the brunt of it as he occasionally needed the attention of the medics. Nzoia had to be at their best towards the end of the half as Sofapaka engaged an higher gear in a bid to break the deadlock but their quest bore no fruit as the visitors were equal to the challenge. Double changes were made by the Sofapaka bench before restart where Geoffrey Ojunga and Alex Imbusia came on for Sébastine Sunday and Guya respectively. Joe Waithira, missed a glorious chance to get Sofapaka ahead seven minutes into the second half after Lawrence Juma picked him with a well weighted cross but the forward headed wide with the goalkeeper to beat. The two teams continued with their search for the opening goal but lethargic display in the final third saw a host of chances on either ends go begging. Nzoia however flipped the script in the 65th minute when James Kibande stepped up to slot home the opener from the spot after he was brought down by the on rushing Frédérick Odhiambo who was cautioned for the challenge. A minute after conceding, Sofapaka committed more numbers forward as the attack minded Ambrose Sifuna came in for left back Nixon Omondi. Nzoia’s lead lasted for only three minutes as Rody Manga who had come in for Waithira tapped in from close range to draw his side level. Two minutes later, the forward was brought down in the area forcing centre referee Zachariah Ashira to point to the spot. Lawrence Juma sent the ball to the top corner to throw Sofapaka ahead. Juma turned from hero from zero in the 82nd as he was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle. The midfielder, in an effort to make up for the mistake would be seen dishing instructions from the end of the pitch.Despite the numerical disadvantage and the seven minutes added on, Sofapaka held on the slim advantage to grab maximum points.Nzoia Sugar XIHumphrey Katasi, Vincent Mahiga, Moses Mwale, Randy Bakari, Salim Odeka, Kevin Juma, Boniface Munyendo, Joseph Mwangi, Felicien Okanda, Alfred Tanui, James KibandeSubstitutes Benson Mangala, Kevin Maliachi, Ian Karani, Dan Wafula, Ian Simiyu, Hassan Beja, Titus Kapchanga, Collins WakhunguSofapaka XIPeter Odhiambo, Nixon Omondi, Daniel Guya, David Nshimirimana, Roy Okal, Titus Achesa, David Otieno, Stephen Okola, Joe Waithira, Lawrence Juma, Sunday SébastineSubstitutes Kevin Omondi, Simon Masaka, Ambrose Sifuna, Geoffrey Ojunga, Hamidi Mohammed, Alex Imbusia,
