Tusker suffered their fifth loss in 11 matches as the chances of them defending their FKF Premier League title looks to continually fade early in the season. The brewers lost a similar number of games in 32 matches last season, and on Sunday Posta Rangers beat Tusker FC threw the Ruaraka-based side back into the pressure bin.
Bernard Ondiek scored the lone goal for the mailmen as Tusker looked flat out and struggled to make an impressive performance.
The defeat leaves them 11th in the standings with 16 points, 12 behind leaders Kakamega Homeboyz who have played two matches more.
The defeat now takes Tusker back to the pressure pan, having won back to back matches to restore some faith.
Against Posta, they were second best.
Caleb Olilo and Brian Marita on either wing were doing all the damage for Posta, with Olilo especially active on the left where he gave Kevin Monyi a torrid time.
Tusker’s Daniel Sakari nutmegs Posta’s Chris Onyango
After surviving a few half chances from the defending champions, closest of which was a Lawrence Luvanda freekick that was straight at the keeper’s arms, Posta began to be more lively in the final third.
Marita, playing against the side he helped win the title last season almost hurt them in the 28th minute when he struck a low shot from the edge of the area, but it was wide. Two minutes later, he had the ball inside the net after keeper Brian Bwire had saved Olilo’s long range shot, but he was denied by the lineswoman’s flag which was up for offside.
Posta were to come back from the break better, despite Tusker making two changes by bringing in Stewart Omondi and John Njuguna for Shami Kibwana and Rodgers Ouma.
Six minutes after the restart, Brian Bwire in Tusker’s goal had to make a timely block, coming off his line quick to block a one on one shot from Joseph Nyatini who had broken into the box.
Posta got the lead in the 57th minute when Ondiek struck a sublime shot from the edge of the box, hitting the under-side of the bar before going in after Bwire’s punch off a cross from Chris Onyango found him well placed.
Tusker’s Stewart Omondi takes a shot at goal
With his side struggling to have a hold of the game and now trailing by a goal, Tusker boss Robert Matano made two more changes, Monyi being given a breather after a difficult afternoon and was replaced by Daniel Sakari while the fatigued Humphrey Mieno was rested for Apollo Otieno.
Eric Zakayo was also brought into the fray, replacing Luvanda.
Tusker had a neat chance to draw level in the 67th minute when off a recycled ball from a corner, Njuguna broke the offside trap to face the keeper one on one. However, he hit his shot wide with Posta players fuming at the first assistant referee as they believed it should have been an offside.
Tusker kept the pressure, playing balls into the Posta box, but the hardworking David Ochieng and Ken Owino ensured they kept a clean sheet as Tusker failed to hit the target.
Meanwhile in other fixtures, at the Kasarani Stadium, defender Frank Odhiambo scored in the second half to give K’Ogalo a pressure easing 1-0 victory, bouncing back from four winless matches.
Daniel Sakari passes the ball under pressure from Posta’s Chris Onyango
In Kakamega, struggling Wazito lost a third consecutive match at the expense of new boys Bullets who finally celebrated their first victory in top flight football since their promotion.
Michael Isabwa struck thrice for Bullets with Vincent Onyango adding another while Wazito’s consolation goals were scored by Elli Asieche and Tyson Otieno.
At the Utalii Complex, Bidco United halted KCB’s positive run with a 1-0 victory courtesy of Jacob Onyango’s goal. The bankers had to finish the match with 10 men after Robinson Kamura was sent off in the 37th minute.
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