Before the loss to Kariobangi Sharks last weekend, Ulinzi Stars last scored at least two goals in a league match in January when they played a two-all draw against Kenya Police FC in a second-leg encounter at Afraha Stadium.Although the Soldiers fell to Sharks, they showed a different side of them that has not been in existence in a long time this year, and that could be a good thing going forward and therefore no cause for alarm for the Bernard Mwalala coached side.Boniface Muchiri and Hillary Simiyu will score so many goals between themselves. Such good acquisitions for @UlinziStarsFC . However, my team still lacks that winning mentality… Once we get that one back, we are good to go. We need to find it soonest#GBUS— Murimi Njiru (@muriminjirujnr) September 26, 2022 In this week’s statistical analysis bit, we look at the numbers in the match and how Ulinzi can turn around the results in their favor in the recent match. The data is facilitated by Sports Performance Analyst Nick Kimanthi.Sharks won the match and carried home the points, but the four-time champions had much time on the ball and perhaps even better chances to bury the game. Ulinzi enjoyed 51.2% possession on the ball, a 10% improvement from their match against Ingwe.Ulinzi Stars vs Kariobangi SharksCoach William Muluya was conspicuously missing from the technical area in the match, and in his absence, the team appeared to be bypassing the midfield, in a number of instances, Dan Guya carried the ball forward directly to the attacking third.In their passing breakdown, Ulinzi Stars attempted 141 passes in midfield compared to Kariobangi Sharks’ 118, completing 111 while Sharks completed 93 in that third.##NAJAVA_MECA_6857499##For the second match of the campaign, Mwalala tweaked his squad, bringing in new signing Staphod Odhiambo and Clinton Omondi at the expense of Jacob Onyango and Francis Omondi. the change enabled Muchiri to drop in midfield and play as a number 10, with Omondi taking the attacking role on the flanks.However, Francis Omondi was introduced midway through the first half to play as a center-back after Bonaventure Muchika came off with injury.Ulinzi Stars vs Kariobangi Sharks passes breakdownThe introduction of Odhiambo and Muchiri in midfield ensured fluidity, as opposed to the previous match when he had fielded three defensive-minded midfielders, and it made it easier going forward, more so in the second half.As opposed to the loss to AFC Leopards, Ulinzi were more direct in their attacks against Kariobangi. They had 46 attacking transitions, 14 more than they had in their season opener, while Sharks had 47 and they made theirs count more so in the build-up to the third goal.It was not a wonder that the club’s first goal of the campaign came from the former Tusker FC forward, created by Hillary Simiyu, who later hit Ulinzi’s second of the game.During the Elite Pre-season Cup tournament, the duo had six goals between them in three matches, each of them scoring three, and in their first start to a league match together, they showed just why they could be the answer to Ulinzi’s goal drought experienced last season.Ulinzi Stars vs Kariobangi Sharks passing stringsHowever, Ulinzi need to limit giving away fouls and corners in their own half. The first two goals they conceded in the match were from a freekick, and from a corner respectively, not to mention Ingwe’s first goal at Ulinzi Sports Complex came from the penalty spot. Against Sharks, they gave away 23 freekicks and six corners and got 21 fouls in their favor and just four corners.Had Sharks been more clinical in their corners, perhaps they would have scored more. Although a short corner led to the second goal, maybe having Dan Guya and Kevin Luke Otiala make the trip up front would have been advantageous for them against the unconvincing defending by Ulinzi that day.What happened to the Soldier Boys? Sharks beat poor Ulinzi StarsWith eight shots on target out of the 12 they attempted, perhaps the Soldiers would have gotten more if the shots were more impactful, and not frail. the same applies to their aerial threat. they have not only wingers who can float in perfect crosses, but also fullbacks who can add to their attacking numbers whenever they have the ball, and it was the case in the game. Enosh Ochieng stands a better chance to benefit from such given his prowess from the past in the air, but he was nowhere near his best in the air on Sunday.Most importantly, they have to get back to their defensive best which has not been the case given the kind of goals they have conceded from the two matches played so far.
