Kakamega Homeboyz’s bid of opening a 12 -point gap at the summit of the Football Kenya Federation Premier League flopped after sharing spoils with Sofapaka in a Football Kenya Premier League League (FKFPL) match played at Kasarani Annex Grounds on Sunday afternoon.Full Time:A point away from home Sofapaka 1-1 HomeboyzOkoth ’12 pic.twitter.com/nNL9wqEVUn— Kakamega Homeboyz FC (@FcHomeboyz) April 10, 2022 Second half changes by the Sofapaka bench paid off as they recovered from a goal down and were unlucky not to arrest their winless run from the scores of chances created in the dying minutes of the game.The desire to collect maximum points was rife on the Homeboyz side from onset as hardly a minute into the game, Yema Mwamba had threatened to break the deadlock. The Congolese forward had dispossessed Stephen Okola in the area but could not keep the shot low despite having the goalkeeper, Frédérick Odhiambo to beat.Three minutes after surviving the early scare, the Sofapaka bench breathed yet another sigh of relief as David Odhiambo cut in from.the right wing but skied his effort while under pressure from Titus Achesa. Odhiambo who was a thorn to the flesh of the full backs switched to the left wing threw Homeboyz ahead in the 14th minute after beating his namesake with a ferocious shot in the near post.The goal hungry forwards continued to raid the Sofapaka goal in search for the second goal but were contained by the defence line that had to break sweat to keep them at bay.Sofapaka recovered from the sluggish start and began executing their free flowing football they have been embracing since David Ouma took over and had their first sniff at goal in the 34th minute when Wilberforce Lugogo tried to beat Godfrey Oputi from distance.Okola nearly drew Sofapaka level two minutes later but his header from David King’atua’s corner slithered off target to the far post. Oputi made a point blank save in the 39th minute to deny Lawrence Juma from tapping in the ball from close range after the defence failed to react quickly and clear a loose ball.Just before restart, Ouma sent in the duo of Alex Imbusia and Joe Waithira for Lugogo and Hansel Ochieng in changes aimed at breaking the Homeboyz wall that had began to soak in pressure heading into the breather.Second halfThe fresh legs brought the much needed punch on the hosts who fully took control of the game forcing Homeboyz to commit more bodies to their area and tighten the spaces.Waithira’s quick feet and dribbling skills was a threat to the defence but his selfishness worked against the team as he failed to release the ball whenever his teammates were on space.However, the former Wazito man redeemed himself in the 79th minute when he poked home a loose ball in the box to draw his side level. Before the goal, Homeboyz had introduced the defence-minded Sunday Mutuku for Michael Isabwa in a bid to protest the slim advantage.Sofapaka’s Nickson Omondi who had come in for King’atua had himself to blame after failing to put the ball into an empty net in the 86th minute after the ball bounced off the woodwork.Juma had delivered a short corner to the path of Waithira to tried to beat Oputi to his left but the ball hit the woodwork and bounced to the path of Omondi who send the ball off the bar.Sofapaka XI: Frédérick Odhiambo, Stephen Okola,David Nshimirimana,Titus Achesa, Ambrose Sifuna, Roy Okal, Lawrence Juma, Wilberforce Lugogo, Hansel Ochieng, Sébastine Sunday, David King’atuaSubstitutes: Kevin Omondi, Dan Guya, Geoffrey Ojunga, Joe Waithira, David Otieno, Alex Imbusia, Nickson OmondiKakamega Homeboyz XI: Oputi Godfrey ,Odhiambo Collins,Maliachi Evans,Owino Sylvester,Eshihanda Brian,Wakanya Stephen,Mudavadi Moses,Masha Gaetan,Isabwa Michael,Okoth David,Yema MwambaSubstitutes: Stephen Otieno, Eric Ambunya, George Odiwour, Sunday Mutuku, Estone Esiye,Ali Bhai, Christopher Masinza, Stephen Opoku, Raymond Murugi
