Kayole Starlets were held to a 1-1 draw by Mathare Women in a fiercely contested derby encounter at Police Sacco Stadium, with both sides creating chances in an end-to-end battle. Both teams entered the match searching for maximum points, with Mathare looking to bounce back from their previous defeat while Kayole Starlets aimed to maintain their impressive start to the season.
GAME OF CHANCES
Mathare were the first to knock on Kayole’s door, with Iddah Adhiambo seeing her effort go just wide of goalkeeper Nelly Achieng’s post. Kayole responded at the other end when Charity Wanala delivered a dangerous ball into the box, but it narrowly missed the onrushing Calta Nasambu, who had found space in front of goal. The first half continued in the same fashion, with chances falling at both ends. However, neither side could find the finishing touch as both defences remained firm to keep the score level at the break.
FIERCING SECOND HALF
The tempo increased after the restart, and Kayole finally broke the deadlock in the 56th minute. A long throw from Ivy Onyango found Rebecca Odato, who brilliantly turned away from her marker before setting up Eunice Bobby. The midfielder made no mistake, sending a low effort into the bottom-right corner to give Kayole the lead. Kayole nearly doubled their advantage moments later when Magneta Ocharo came close, but her effort was well saved by the Mathare goalkeeper.
Looking to add more control and energy to the attack, Coach George Kimani made a triple substitution in the 74th minute, introducing Fridah Parloma, Naomi Masinde and Shani Shemaiah. The changes almost had an immediate impact. Magneta slipped a through ball into the path of Parloma, but her effort from a tight angle went just wide. Parloma then turned provider, setting up Magneta beautifully, but the forward’s effort was once again denied by the goalkeeper.
Against the run of play, Mathare found their equaliser when Shalin Otieno connected with a well-delivered cross to bring the game level. With the match entering its final stages, Kayole pushed for a winner. Parloma pounced on a defensive error and laid the ball into Magneta’s path, but her resulting effort went wide. Despite a late push from both sides, neither team could find a winner as the fierce encounter ended 1-1.
WHAT NEXT?
The point takes Kayole Starlets to 5 points from three matches, keeping them in fifth position and among the three unbeaten teams in the league alongside Police Bullets and Ulinzi Starlets. Kayole will next face Ulinzi Starlets at home after the international break in what promises to be another exciting encounter.
MATCHWEEK 3 TAKEAWAYS
- Eunice Bobby scored her first goal of the season.
- Rebecca Odato registered her first assist of the season.
- Drailer Salome was named the Ushindi Player of the Match.