Kingston claimed their revenge on London School of Economics with a 3-1 victory after the away side ended KU’s unbeaten league streak on their previous encounter.
Joseph Headley, Fabio Tavares and Henry Awu scored for Kingston to keep the host’s hopes of winning the league alive.
“The way we lost to these guys two weeks ago was very hard. We dominated the game and had more attempts on goal and they scored two free kicks. They love a free kick, they scored another today,” coach Besim Ali said.
Headley opened the scoring in the 33rd minute after a well-worked cross from Saif Khan.
The forward scored his 10th goal of the season with a diving header. Tavares’ goal for Kingston in the 50th minute doubled their advantage.
Santiago Navarro, who was causing LSE trouble in possession, crossed the ball for Tavares to head over the goalkeeper.
Awu rounded off the scoring for Kingston. He had missed a perfect opportunity to score in the 61st minute when the ball found its way to him in the box, but in the 64th he made no mistakes with a thunderous volley.
LSE replied to Awu’s goal with an instant consolation goal, as Okan Guzel managed to head the ball past Reece Harper from an LSE free kick.
Ali said: “The next game with Royal Holloway is the decider. They’re top and we’re second so if we win then we go above them.”
LSE were reduced to 10 men when in the 72nd minute Chris Makishima made a late tackle and received a second yellow card.
The opening stages of the game were a closely contested display and Awu was a constant threat on the left wing.
There were calls for a penalty at the end of the first half when an LSE player handled the ball in the penalty box but the referee waved the decision away.
Headley was substituted in the 53rd minute due to a hamstring strain and he made way for Reece Carter-Allen.
The KU team hope Headley can regain fitness as he has been pivotal for the Cougars this season.
Headley said: “I’m happy to score again and to get into double figures, it’s not all about me but I’m happy to do well because normally when I score we tend to win.
“Today was about revenge, we lost points to them so they were long due a loss. In the changing room we were all hyped up because we knew we had three games left: we win all three, we win the league.”
Kingston’s penultimate game of the season is away to league leaders Royal Holloway University of London 1sts and a win for KU could be enough for Kingston to claim the league title.
Konstantinos Patas