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Kenya Police now must work hard to clinch the FKF Premier League title after being bundled out by Mara Sugar in the quater finals of the FKF Cup following a dramatic penatly shootout.
Defending FKF Cup champions Kenya Police were sensationally knocked out of the 2024/25 edition after a dramatic 10-9 penalty shootout loss to Mara Sugar in Sunday afternoon’s quarterfinal clash at Dandora Stadium.
The hard-fought contest ended 1-1 in regulation time before an intense shootout saw Mara seal a semifinal showdown with Nairobi United.
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12:00 - 24.05.2025
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First half
Mara Sugar take lead through Dennis Cheruiyot after Fredick Ngiela cleverly executed a freekick by hitting it low into the box, with most Police players expecting an areal ball to be swang in.
Ngela did well to find Cheruiyot in the box, before the energetic midfielder found the back of the net to put them into the lead.
Mara Sugar continued to build on to their lead, creating a couple of more chances, and in the 24th minute, should have been two goals ahead after a good counter attacking move resulting in Brian Ochieng unleashing a good attempt that forced Police custodian John Ochieng into a fine save.
It was from this point on that Police began to get a foothold into the game. In the 26th minute, David Simiyu was denied from close range after getting on the end of a low cross by Badi Baraka who overlapped David Okoth well from the right before hitting it first time upon receiving a great through ball.
In the 30th minute, Mohammed Bajaber forced Mara Sugar goalie Evans Omondi into another fine stop after another excellent delivery by Badi Baraka.
From the resultant corner kick, Police would soon restore parity whe Brian Okoth equalised for Kenya Police in the 31st minute from the resulting corner kick delivered well by Mo Bajaber, capitalising on a second ball after Charles Ouma won the initial ball by flicking it behind for Okoth.
Police nearly took the lead for the first time in the game in the 38th minute when Marvi e Nabwire got on the end of a delicious defence splitter by Mo Bajaber, but hit it just over the bar.
Mara Sugar were on the back foot for much of this period, but nearly took the lead again against the run of play when Noah Jagongo unleashed a shot that forced Job Ochieng into a good save.
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Second half
Both sides struggled to create chances in each other’s final third for the better part of the opening 30 minutes of the second half, which prompted Police boss Ettiene Ndayiragije to bring on experienced Jesse Jackson Were in for Eric Zakayo, as he opted to take a direct route to beat Mara Sugar’s compact set up.
However, their work would be made harder when captain David ‘Cheche’ Ochieng was given his marching orders in the 73rd minute after being booked for the second time of the afternoon.
There was a temporary moment of drama in the 81st minute when David Simiyu fouled Lameck Omondi, requiring the Mara Sugar substitute to receive treatment, while the Police goalscorer was involved in an argument with the Millers’ players.
Realising the game was destined to head for extra time, the Police gaffer decided to sub Reuben Juma for John Okoth in an unusual situation of subbing goalkeepers.
In the end, the game ended 1-1 after regulation time, and it all now went down to penalties to seal the fate.
The decision to sub Juma turned out to be one of the best, as he denied Jakongo from the spot. Although Bajaber went on to miss his penalty in a surprising version, Lameck Omondi of Mara also missed his, keeping Police at an advantage.
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However, Baraka Badi missed the decisive penalty, allowing Mara to bounce back and take the shootout to sudden death.
In sudden death, all penalties went in, meaning the spotkicks had to be retaken all over again, but it was the ultimate heartbreak for Police after Clinton Kinanga could not net his second spotkick, allowing Mara Sugar to coast their way to victory.
In a shootout that will be remembered for its length and intensity, Mara Sugar ultimately held their nerve to dump out the reigning champions. They will now face Nairobi United in the semifinals as their fairy-tale run continues.
For Kenya Police, the defeat ends their double hopes and hands them a bitter reality check despite their league dominance.
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