Kariobangi Sharks will face off with Bidco United in the final of the second edition of the Elite Preseason Cup after edging out Sofapaka FC 2-1 in their last group match at the Utalii Grounds on Wednesday afternoon.Both teams had to play the final stages of the match with a man-less, each, after Sofapaka’s Jacob Addis Panoam and Sharks defender Ghai Panchol were sent off in the dying minutes of the game after an altercation.The William Muluya-coached side finished the group unscathed, winning all their group matches against Posta Rangers, Sofapaka FC, and Kajiado FC.Geoffrey Onyango and Victor Ngume scored a goal each in either half to put Sharks ahead, with Sofapaka’s returnee Abdul Razak Fiston netting the consolation in the second period.##NAJAVA_MECA_7417099##Despite the winning, it is the ease at which skipper Kevin Luke Otiala has slotted in midfield that will make Muluya smile, perhaps a solution to their troubles in the defensive midfield position.Sofapaka put up a good display, one better than the one they showed at the M-Pesa Foundation Academy on Tuesday when they lost 2-0 to Posta Rangers.However, Sharks were the better side more so in the first half as evidenced 33 minutes in the game when they took the lead from the penalty spot after Fortune Omotto was hugged in the box, prompting the center referee Peter Waweru Kamaku to point to the spot.Geoffrey Onyango, who had a decent game on Wednesday, stepped up to take the resultant kick and made no mistake as he slotted the ball on the left side, the keeper going the other way.Mara Sugar axe six as pre-season gets underwayOn resumption for the second half, Sharks picked up from where they left in the initial stages, scoring after just three minutes. Leonlevit Otieno set slid the ball for Ngume who just took it away from Jacob Osano to make it 2-0.10 minutes later, Sofapaka pulled one back through Razak with former Mathare United midfielder Khalid Jumaan doing most of the work to set up the Burundian for the goal.Despite being on the ascendancy in the second period, it was not enough to see them pick at least a point as Sharks held on to win 2-1.
