Mara Sugar have advanced to the next stage of the Mozzart Bet Cup after edging Zetech Titans 4-3 on post match penalties after a barren draw in regulationn time in a round of 32 game staged at the Police Sacco Grounds on Sunday afternoon. Both teams went all out in the opening stages of the duel in search of an early advantage. Titans won a number of corners that did not amount to much early on, while Mara looked dangerous on the break but equally with little to show for it.##NAJAVA_MECA_7899688##Mara’s skipper of the day, Drona Langa, should have put his side ahead in the 11th minute, but with the goal at his mercy, he headed wide with no Zetech player marking him.Zetech slowly took control of the clash as the clock ticked, but they didn’t create many clear-cut chances as Mara’s keeper was largely untroubled despite his side being forced onto their back foot.The Millers had another good chance to stun the dominant scholars in the 29th minute, but his header from a crisp Woodvine Okoth cross from the left hit the roof of the net.In the 37th minute, Zetech’s Fidel Castro hit the upright as Mara Sugar survived going behind. Mara cleared the rebounding shot to keep the scores level.Michael Okoth’s 43rd-minute strike left Mara keeper Felix Adoyo rooted to the ground, but he narrowly failed to find the back of the net as the ball rolled out of play. The first half ended goalless.Mozzart Bet Cup: Kinanga’s bullet sends Police to round of 16Six minutes into the second half, Zetech missed a great chance to take the lead. A misjudgement of a cross from keeper Adoyo gave them a chance to score into an empty net but hesitance saw the keeper recover to pick the ball from the goalline.Dennis Cheruiyot had a chance to give Mara the lead in the 58th minute but he somehow shot wide with only the keeper to beat after going past a couple of defenders.The chances dried up as the clock ticked and in the end, the game had to be decided from the penalty spot.The Sugar Men custodian Adoyo was the man of the moment as he saved three spot kicks to guide Benedict Wanjala’s charges into the round of 16. Zetech captain Winston Song had a chance to win the duel for the varsity boys after Fredrick Ngiela’s spot-kick was saved by the impressive Kevin Odour but saw Adoyo rise to the occasion to keep the Millers in play. Mathias Isogol calmly slotted home the last kick to guarantee the Millers a spot in the next round. While Mohammed Baraza and Fredrick Ngiela missed their kicks, Mike Isabwa, Ernest Oyugi, and Robert Obaga all converted from the spot.Stars Abroad: Mixed results for Kenyans abroadFidel Castro and Prince Ian failed to score for the students while Waren Ogule, Abdalla Mlagwe, and Hillary Mukalushi scored.The second tier side will now face FKF Division One outfit Compel FC.
