Elite Preseason Cup: Sharks come from behind to beat Posta Rangers in eventful first-half showing

©Elite Preseason Cup

FOOTBALL Elite Preseason Cup: Sharks come from behind to beat Posta Rangers in eventful first-half showing

Mark Kinyanjui 16:00 - 07.08.2023

Kariobangi Sharks overcome slow start to beat Posta Rangers in their opening Elite Preseason Cup fixture.

Kariobangi Sharks started their Elite Preseason Cup campaign brightly after rallying from behind to beat Posta Rangers 2-1 at the Utalii Grounds on Monday afternoon.

It was Posta Rangers who started the brighter of the two sides when the effervescent Vincent Wasambo forced young defender Guy Punchol into making a mistake as they tried to play out from the back, but he could not find the target afterwards.

In the 14th minute, Posta’s pressure eventually proved too much for sharks, as Caleb Olilo won a penalty after a desperate last minute challenge by midfielder Stanley Wilson resulted into giving an unnecessary foul away.

Eric Kipkirui made no mistake from the spot, as he slotted home past a helpless Bernard Kilon to put Rangers ahead.

Sharks had to regroup, and they decided to revert to staying calm under pressure. It would only take five minutes for them to equalize, as a moment of sustained pressure resulted in Posta captain Kennedy Owino putting the ball into the back of the net.

Sharks were suddenly the better side of the two, and in the 24th minute Fortune Omotto found Geoffrey ‘Lefter’ Onyango on the left, and all he had to do was hit the ball on target, but it went wide.

Sharks continued to pile on the pressure, and in the 39th minute were 2-1 u0, when defender-cum-midfielder Kevin Luke Otiala hit an unstoppable left-footed shot into the right of John Njau’s net from outside the box.

However, Sharks’ new signing Victor Ngume would have to get off injured in the 41st minute, forcing coach William Muluyua into subbing on Moses Shikanda as his replacement.

Rangers had the rarest of opportunities to equalize just before halftime when Eric Gachimu hit the ball just wide after Wasambo had drilled in a low left-footed cross from the left wing.

Second-half

Sharks carried on the positive momentum from the first half and could have made it three when Shikanda found himself one on one with the keeper after they had managed to turn over possession brightly, but he hit the ball across the face of goal in the 52st minute.

From then on, the game became a fairly even contest with no side creating clear cut chances, making it difficult to write something about.

In the 78th minute, Felix Oluoch could have equalized when Posta tuned over possession following a mixup in build up from the back between Sharks defenders.

Rangers could have equalized just before the end when substitute Eliud Lukumwa spotted Bernard Killon was out of his line, which made him cheekily attempt to hit a long range shot in efforts to find the back of the net from the halfway line, but the ball sailed just over the bar.

In the end, the game ended 2-1 in favor of Sharks to get all the three points.

On Tuesday, Kajiado will play Sharks at 8:00 AM, before Posta face Sofapaka at 10:00 AM and Rainbow clash against Bidco at the same venue at 2: 00 PM

Posta Rangers XI: NJohn Njau, Kennedy Ochieng’ Faustine Ojiambo, Bernard Ondieki, Kennedy Odhiambo, Meshack Muyoma, Geoffrey Ojunga, Caleb Olilo (Felix Oluoch 64’), Eric Kipkirui (Eric Lukhumwa 64’) , Eric Gachimu (Ken Mutembei 64’), Vincent Wasambo

Kariobangi Sarks XI:Bernard Kilion, Steve Omotto, Panchol Ghai,Timothy Ekhavi,Fredick Ashuhula, Stanley Wilson (Mathew Kibiwot 84’), Kevin Luke Otiala (Keith Imbali 60’) ,Geoffrey Onyango, Fortune Omotto,Victor Ngume (Moses Shikanda 41’- {Donald Ange 84’} ), Leonlevit Otieno( Donald Ange 84’)