NAZARETH ILLIT, Israel (Interstat) — Mara Sugar defeated visiting Mombasa United 2-1 at Green Stadium on Monday, getting first-half goals from Kalvin Mwavali and Alex Imbusia and holding off a late comeback attempt. Mara Sugar was the home team and Mombasa United was the visiting team in the match. The result moved Mara Sugar to 1-0-4 in the competition and 1-0-4 across all competitions. Mombasa United is now 1-3-2 in the competition and 1-3-2 across all competitions.

Mwavali put Mara Sugar ahead in the 35th minute, finishing a move that gave the home side the opening goal. Imbusia doubled the advantage in the 44th minute, scoring just before halftime to give Mara Sugar a 2-0 lead at the break. Both Mwavali and Imbusia played the full 90 minutes and scored once. Mombasa United could not answer before halftime, and Mara Sugar carried its two-goal cushion into the second half.

Mombasa United could not find a goal for much of the second half, but the visitors broke through in the third minute of second-half stoppage time. The late goal cut Mara Sugar’s lead to 2-1 and forced the home side to defend through the final moments. Mara Sugar held on to secure the win. The match took place at Green Stadium in Nazareth Illit.

Mombasa United entered the match after a scoreless draw at Leopards and had also drawn 0-0 with Shabana. Its previous results this season also included a 1-0 home loss to Kakamega Homeboyz, a 2-1 loss at Kariobangi Sharks and a 2-1 home win over Kariobangi Sharks. Those results left Mombasa United with a 1-3-2 record in the competition and a 1-3-2 record across all competitions. The visitors’ late goal against Mara Sugar was not enough to overcome the two-goal first-half deficit.

Mara Sugar entered with four straight draws. It had played a scoreless draw at Nairobi United, a 2-2 draw at 3K FC, a scoreless draw with Migori and a scoreless draw at Tusker. The draw at Nairobi United was scoreless, as were the matches against Migori and Tusker, while the 2-2 result at 3K FC was the only time Mara Sugar scored multiple goals in that stretch. Mara Sugar carried that unbeaten run into the match and added its first win of the season in the competition. Mara Sugar’s record in the competition is now 1-0-4, and its record across all competitions is also 1-0-4.

Mombasa United’s late goal made the final minutes difficult for the home side, but Mara Sugar managed the closing stretch well enough to preserve the result. The visitors had chances to equalize but could not produce a second goal. Mara Sugar’s defense absorbed pressure after halftime and did enough to protect the advantage created by Mwavali and Imbusia. Mombasa United’s record reflected another narrow setback.

The game featured two first-half goals from Mara Sugar and a late response from Mombasa United. Mwavali and Imbusia provided the scoring for the home side, while Mombasa United’s only goal came in stoppage time. Mara Sugar’s win kept its season record without a loss in the competition. Mombasa United remained at 1-3-2 in the competition and 1-3-2 across all competitions.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Mara Sugar 1, Mombasa United 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Mara Sugar with a 76.6 percent probability to win. Mara Sugar had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 3 went under the over/under line of 2.5.