Kenya Police FC’s FKF Cup journey came to a dramatic end after a nerve-wracking 9-8 penalty shootout defeat to Mara Sugar FC at Dandora Stadium.
The match was a tight contest from the first whistle. Mara Sugar struck early, taking the lead in the 10th minute. But Kenya Police responded swiftly through Brian Okoth, who slotted home a tidy finish in the 30th minute to level the scores.
From there, it was a battle of nerves and resilience. Kenya Police faced a major setback in the 74th minute when captain David Ochieng was shown a red card, forcing them to finish the match with ten men. Despite the disadvantage, they held their ground, with goalkeeper Job producing crucial saves to keep the match at 1-1 after 90 minutes.
The penalty shootout was an epic in itself — a marathon of tension and precision. Both teams converted their spot kicks with remarkable composure until sudden death. At 8-8, Clinton Kinanga stepped up but missed, giving Mara Sugar the chance to seal it, which they did, snatching a 9-8 victory and a place in the semifinals.
Final Score:
- Kenya Police FC 1–1 Mara Sugar FC (Mara Sugar won 9-8 on penalties)
Key Moments:
- Mara Sugar opened the scoring (10’)
- Brian Okoth equalized for Kenya Police (30’)
- David Ochieng sent off (74’)
- Penalty shootout drama ends 9-8 in Mara’s favor
It was a brave display from Kenya Police FC, who fought with heart and grit but fell just short in one of the FKF Cup’s most thrilling encounters.
