Peter ‘pinches’ Opiyo pinched Sofapaka out of the midfield
battle to win the ‘man of the match’ award. It was a match that lacked
firepower as both sides employed a cautious approach. At some point it looked
like a kick around. Sofapaka made two great mistakes and paid by conceding as
many goals. One was a goalkeeping blunder and the other leaving Noah Wafula
unmarked on the blind side.
I had aluded to the match being a battle between Peter Opiyo
and Sofapaka skipper James Situma. In the end Peter Opiyo prevailed because he
had good back up in Martin Imbalambala and Paul Were as Mike Baraza got lost in
the crowd. Situma on the other hand had the team’s weak link in John Njoroge
right in front of him with Anthony Kimani only as his side kick. That simple
arithmetic counted for Leopards.
Leopards employed a 4-3-3 formation from the start. Paul Were
and Noah Wafula were on both sides of Allan Wanga upfront. The two Sofapaka
full backs of Thomas Wanyama and Yusuf Juma did well to stop the two
terrorists. In the end Were had to fire in a clever cross from far between
Eugene Asike and Felly Mulumba to Wafula on the right to score the second goal
as his traditional runs on the flank were halted by Wanyama.
Sofapaka had a 4-4-2 formation with John Baraza and Mustafa
Kasolo in the opponent’s box. Their back four played wide in attack forming a
wedge into Ingwes box. In defense, the back four would go narrow giving space
for Anthony Kimani ‘muki’ and Patrick Kagogo to fall back and cover.
Sofapaka must look for another Humphrey Mieno to go into the
‘hole’ behind the twin strikers. John Njoroge was deployed in that position and
‘his calls went unanswered’ just like Mike Baraza in the opposite side. In the
absence of speedy wingers as Juma and Wanyama were kept busy hence overlapped
less, an intelligent player is needed at the centre. Situma was left to do
everything, from spade work recovery of balls to rushing up to initiate attack;
he lost the fight honourably in the end.
Martin Imbalambala with two powerful players on the flanks,
Paul Were and Wafula, freed Peter Opiyo to do what he does best, read the game.
This worked for Ingwe, as Sofapaka opted for long balls to Baraza and Kasolo
who were tightly marked by Saleh and Anthony Kimani ‘modo’ in ingwe defense.
The first goal in the 42nd minute, Duncan Ochieng’
missed to clear a ball after Bagole had shielded Wanga. Wanga broke loose and
tapped it in. This came after Duncan had made some daring saves to deny
Leopards’ goals so it was a tot of bad luck.
Sofapaka came in the second half with the intention of
hoarding the ball but that did not work. Situma had gone into defense and
Bagole replaced him in the midfield with no much effect. Kagogo went out for
Elly Asieche in the 47th minute and went behind the strikers as
Njoroge went to the left. This change added little punch upfront to trouble ingwe.
Eugene Asike came in for Kasolo and went into defense to send
Situma back into the midfield. Sofapaka now crowded the midfield with five
players with only John Baraza upfront. Ingwe responded by Were and Wafula
dropping deep to leave Wanga a lone man upfront. Wafula’s 82nd
minute strike killed the match and Sofapaka’s efforts were too little too late.
Sofapaka are good but that could be the enemy of their best.
They lack that cutting edge of champions and to wrestle the league title from
the jaws of Gor will need extra cat skills. Leopards’ must sharpen their claws
if they are to bag the GoTv Shield; their first major silver since 1998. It was
a match with ‘little juice’ to write home about.
© STUTTISTICS media
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