Rupia stars as AFC Leopards tear apart Sofapaka

AFC Leopards striker Elvis Rupia was the star of the show as the hosts thrashed Sofapaka 3-0 in a BetKing Premier League match at Kasarani Annex on Saturday.

Rupia, who is now the league's top scorer with six goals, helped himself to a hat-trick to seal Leopards' third win of the season after a barren first half.

The former Wazito FC hitman was substituted with four minutes left to a rousing reception from a few Ingwe fans who attended the match. His place was taken by Hansel Ochieng, while Marvin Nabwire came in for Fabrice Mugheni.

Rupia broke the deadlock in 47th minute after his shot evaded a forest of legs in the Sofapaka box.

He added the second in the 52nd minute pouncing on a loose ball in the box after a poor clearance from Sofapaka defence before completing the rout in the 65th minute finishing off a neat cross from Peter Thiong’o.

AFC Leopards' third win in a row leaves them top of the league with nine points, three ahead of KCB who host Kakamega Homeboyz on Sunday at the same venue.

Coach Anthony Kimani made four changes to the squad that started in the previous matches against Tusker and Bidco United by starting Benjamin Ochan, Thiong’o, Mugheni and Bienvenue Shaka in place of John Oyemba, Caleb Olilo, Nabwire and Austin Odhiambo.

With five minutes left, Kimani made a double substitution bringing in Olilo and Boniface Mukhekhe in place of Jafari Owiti and Thiong’o respectively.

Sofapaka’s Michael Karamor missed an open opportunity after his shot hit the bar.

John Baraza rested Roy Okal for David Simiyu in 77th minute shortly after introducing Kepha Aswani but the changes did not yield any fruit.