Kenya Police rebounded from their recent Premier League loss at the hands of Gor Mahia with a pulsating 3-2 victory over Kariobangi Sharks in an exciting game at the Kasarani Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.Quick second half goals from Patillah Omotto and a Keith Imbali own goal set Kenya Police on track for their ninth win of the season and had to defend tightly at the end after Tyson Otieno had scored a late goal to pull Sharks to within a goal of levelling matters.Kenya Police had led early through Elvis Rupia with Fortune Omotto equalising just inside the 30th minute mark.##NAJAVA_MECA_7079898##With the win, Kenya Police go fifth on the table with 31 points while Kariobangi Sharks remain 10th with 23 points.”It wasn’t a perfect game,” Police boss Francis Baraza said post-game. “There was a clear plan to how Sharks attacked the game but I commend the boys for the fight and the win. We needed that.”A distraught William Muluya on the other hand had a few words asking for team consistency after being on a three game unbeaten run leading upto the game.”The quick goals in the first five second half minutes were costly for us,” Muluya said. “I won’t say its a mental thing but I want them to play with some confidence.”Game Recap. Kenya Police- straight from their 2-1 loss to Gor Mahia- got things going early and didn’t take long before taking the lead as top striker Elvis Rupia headed in a Charles Ouma cross off the right post to give the Law Enforcers a thirteenth minute lead.The young men of Kariobangi Sharks did not show any signs of slumping and got themselves cross five minutes later as Fortune Omoto drove from the right to unleash a right foot shot that struck the upright.Sofapaka beat Mathare United to end winless runThe visitors were soon celebrating Fortune Omotto’s equalizer just after the half-hour mark following some brilliant show of skill by Tyson Otieno who left Police skipper Musa Mohammed crushing down to earth before setting up Omotto to plant the ball into the empty net.The ‘boxing match’ took another turn as Kenya Police looked to hand Sharks a return jab immediately after but Elvis Rupia, with a gaping goal, miskicked his shot leading the two teams into a 1-1 draw at the break.The second half got off to a super fast start for Kenya Police and they took the lead once again – this time, not from their player as Sharks midfielder Keith Imbali headed in a Clifton Miheso cross ball from the right over John Otieno and into the net.The Kenya Police fans around the stadium were two minutes later off their seats for a second time as Duke Abuya found space down the left side to set up Patillah Omotto for a subtle header that outfoxed the Sharks goalkeeper to take a 3-1 lead after 50 minutes.Kariobangi Sharks will have to thank Geoffrey Onyango as he made a big goal line clearance to put out Abuya’s effort inside the 53rd minute.Tyson Otieno would have made 3-2 for Sharks after going past an onrushing Job Ochieng only for his tight angle attempt to hit the side-netting.Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat promises surprise call-ups for Burundi friendliesSecond half substitute David Okoth – who came on for Aboud Omar – stung John Otieno’s hands in the 80th minute, closely following a flurry of Sharks’ substitutions that brought on Sigmunn Maina and Patrick Ngunyi from the bench for Julius Masaba and Biron Otieno.Kariobangi Sharks were not going down easily and they made their efforts count – this time through Tyson Otieno who slammed in a Paul Odhiambo return ball from a Geoffrey Onyango cross to make it 3-2.The game has suddenly sprung into life and seconds from the kickoff, Ngunyi was set up from a long ball only to blaze his right shot just wide off the post.Kariobangi Sharks looked to have run their race and at full-time, the Kenya Police fans were up in celebration with their ninth win in 17 games.LINEUPS.Kenya Police FC Starting XI: Job Ochieng, Eric Juma, Aboud Omar, Soita Silicho, Musa Mohamed, Patillah Omotto, Clifton Miheso, Charles Ouma, Elvis Rupia, Francis Kahata.Subs: Reuben Otieno, David Ambulu, Yusuf Nasri, Kevin Ouma, Baraka Edage, Clinton Okinyi, Alvin Mang’eni, Reagan Otieno, David Odhiambo, David Simiyu.Kariobangi SharksStarting Xi: John Otieno, Kevin Musamali, Collins Obanda, Julius Masaba, Geoffrey Onyango, Keith Imbali, Fortune Omoto, Biron Otieno, Kevin Wangaya, Matthew Kibiwott, Tyson Otieno.Subs: Gideon Ogweno, Leon Otieno, Paul Okoth, Zablon Kutela, Patrick Ngunyi, Sigmunn Maina, Timothy Ikhavi, Fredrick Alushula.
