Mathare United surrendered a two-goal advantage to lose the game 3-2 with FC Talanta having Brian Yakhama to thank for single handedly sealing the three points for them in a league clash staged at the Kasarani Annex on Saturday 14 January.Elsewhere in Kakamega, record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia claimed a 1-0 win over Kakamega Homeboyz to scale up third on the log, leaving them three points off table toppers Tusker FC with a game in hand.Lloyd Kavuchi notched the lone goal of the game in the 79th minute to seal Gor Mahia’s fifth win of the season and compound Homeboyz to their second defeat of the season after losing the opening game against Tusker.The Slum Boys arrived into the clash after registering their first point of the season after four games following the 1-1 draw against Posta Rangers in a mid week encounter but were still rooted to the bottom of the standings.Super sub Kisilu strikes to gift City Stars crucial first win of the season against SofapakaTalanta on the other hand had suffered four straight losses this season which meant that they were the team with the poorest from judging from the last four games this season.Ken Kenyatta’s charges started the game brightly looking to halt their poor run of form but they could not capitalize on their early dominance in possession which died off as Mathare grew into the game following the tough start.The tide completely turned into Mathare’s favour in the 14th minute when Donald Ange received a pass from Daniel Otieno and turned to unleash a ferocious shot that beat Kevin Otieno in goal for the game’s opener.##NAJAVA_MECA_6945808##The Slum Boys had two brilliant chances to double their lead but Ange and Chris Opondo who scored to rescue a point for them against Posta missed guilt edge chances inside the six yard area.They were made to rue their missed chances as Talanta equalized through Brian Yakhama who received a long pass Dennis Oalo in midfield and had acres of space to control the ball and send it to the far post to restore parity.Mathare were handed a penalty in the 42nd minute when Alvin Chicha hacked down Chris Opondo just inside the 18-yard area with the referee pointing to the spot as there were no protests from the Talanta players bar the guilty defender.Lennox Oguttu stepped up to take the penalty and displayed nerves of steel as he picked the left hand side of the goal with the ball just having enough power to beat Kevin Otieno in goal despite getting his palm on the ball.The second half was off to a slow start with Mathare showing early signs of holding on to their lead by defending while Talanta lacked the sharpness in attack to threaten the Slum Boys in the opening 15 minutes of the closing half.Talanta thought they had grabbed the equalizer in the 62nd minute when Alvin Ochieng carried the ball from his own half via a give and take pass with Michael Jairo and released a pass across the face of goal which was tapped in by Yakhama but the linesman flag denied him the goal with the Talanta bench vehemently protesting the decision.Talanta finally had a goal count in the 71st minute when Herman Ngala found Yakhama who was a thorn in the flesh of Mathare as he tapped home with the simplest of finishes to equalize for the second time in the game.FKF Cup makes comeback after one and a half year absenceThat man again Brian Yakhama netted in the 88th minutes amid wave after wave of Talanta attack as he found space at the center of the box to notch his first hat-trick this season and seal three points for his side.Talanta held on for the win to overwrite their four game losing streak and give themselves some breathing space in the early relegation fight.Line upsTalanta XI: Kevin Otieno, Erick Shikono, Alvin Ochieng, Shela Mandela, Luis Masika, Castro Ogendo, Rodgers Angal, Barrack Odhiambo, Brian Yakhama, Dennis Oalo (December Kisaka 65′) Michael Jairo (Herman Ngala 65′).Subs: James Omusinde, Peter Muigai, Ian Omondi, Vincent Owino, Alex Luganji.Mathare XI: Brian Olang’o, Fidel Otieno, Joseph Odhiambo, Brian Okeyo, Lennox Oguttu, Alphonse Ndonye, Curtis Wekesa (Victor Kioko 65′), Agustine Kuta, Donald Ange, Daniel Otieno, Chris Opondo.Subs: Jairo Bernard, Derrick Ikholi, Saidi Musa, Francis Wasike, Samson Otieno, Douglas Koech, Reagan Onyango, Steve Kimani.
