Leon Otieno had his markers on the toast as Kariobangi Sharks recovered from a goal down to edge Mathare United 3-1 in the second leg of the Slum Derby hosted at Dandora Stadium on Saturday. With Sharks in dire need of maximum points, Otieno grabbed two assists and won a penalty to inspire his side to their first league win of the year.Prior to their Saturday clash against Mathare, Sharks had not won a league game since Sunday 8 December when they narrowly edged Posta Rangers at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos. Last weekend, the club needed the magical touch of 14-year-old Nicholas Onyango and the scoring instincts of Ally Salum to floor third-tier side Zetech Titans 1-0 and sail to the Round of 16 of the Mozzart Bet Cup. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8779943##The cup win was perhaps what Sharks needed to turn their season around, as they confronted Mathare with renewed vigour and were certainly the hungrier of the two sides. They, however, had to break sweat for it as Mathare took the lead barely six minutes into the game through experienced midfielder Elli Asieche. Facing his former employers, Asieche stepped up to successfully convert from the spot after Biko Omollo brought John Nyawir down in the area. Although Sharks goalkeeper Sebastian Wekesa went the right way, Asieche’s kick to the bottom of the right corner had the power to beat the fully-stretched custodian. Mathare did not enjoy the lead for long, as Sharks replied in the 22nd minute through Stephen Bwire, who connected from close range after Otieno laid the ball on his path. KCB defender terms loneliness as toughest part of his injury recoveryOtieno used his pace to beat his marker, Starlone Odhiambo, before finding Bwire with a well-weighted cross, which Mathare goalkeeper, Michael Wanyika, made a slight touch. Bwire, reacted quickly and out-paced his marker, Fidel Otieno, to connect the ball into the net and open his league goal account in the season.Sharks took full control of the game in the 31st minute when Ghai Panchol struck home the second goal from the spot after Otieno was fouled in the box. Why Mohammed Bajaber foresees ‘bright future’ under Benni McCarthyOtieno had, once again, eased past Odhiambo, but Wanyika came off the line in a bid to bail the young left back out and prevent the forward from scoring, only to miss the ball and catch the opponent. Realizing the damage Otieno was causing on the right wing, Mathare head coach John Kamau withdrew Odhiambo in the first half for the seasoned Sammy Imbuye. Mathare pushed hard in the second half, but Sharks would commit numbers behind the ball when out of possession, as they sought to hold on to the lead. TACTICAL ANALYSIS: Kakamega Homeboyz’s four main attacking movesSharks survived several nervous moments in the closing half, thanks to the pressure from Mathare. They equally had moments where they would have sealed all points. Fresh from Sweden, Humphrey Aroko put the result beyond the reach of Mathare in the 90th minute, curling the ball a few inches from the box with Otieno claiming the assist. Aroko, who returned home from trials at Sweden’s AIK, proved he had not landed the opportunity by fluke or favouritism as, out of nothing, he scored a superb goal to earn his side all points.
