Two of Nairobi’s top sides came up with 1-0 victories on Thursday in Kenya’s FKF Premier League to consolidate their top-5 positions. AFC Leopards moved into a tie at the top of the table after defeating struggling Mathare United and Gor Mahia continued their surge up the table into fifth place by winning against Vihiga United.
Elvis Rupia was the difference maker in Leopards’ win, taking a pass on the edge of the Mathare penalty area and delivering a stellar left footed effort to beat Mathare keeper Job Ochieng. Rupia now has 12 goals on the season to continue an impressive campaign that has him second on the top scorer chart. The win could have been more lopsided if it wasn’t for some wasteful finishing from Leopards and some quality reaction saves from Ochieng. Mathare are last among the active teams in the league table with Zoo FC’s banishment keeping them from being at the foot of the table, but still are only four points away from safety despite their struggles.
Gor avenged an earlier home defeat this season against Vihiga by reversing the score in the road encounter. Clifton Miheso’s long range strike in the 40th minute gave K’Ogalo their fourth victory in a row and maintained the undefeated record Gor Mahia have been nursing since the return of domestic football earlier in May. Vihiga provided some resistance but could not find an equalizer, keeping them on 12 points and only out of the relegation zone due to goal differential. Gor moved into fifth and can move within 5 points of the top of the table if they take advantage of the game they still have to make up on the competition.
Citizen TV has a recap of the day’s action in the link below and highlights from both matches are further down.
AFC Leopards 1-0 Mathare United
Vihiga United 0-1 Gor Mahia