- Last weekend’s first leg match ended in controversy
- Tusker are now seven points behind leaders Homeboyz
- Gor Mahia’s title ambitions fade
Shaphan Oyugi and substitute Deogratious Ojok scored in either half as FKF Premier League defending champions Tusker FC earned revenge over Gor Mahia, beating them 2-0 in Narok on Saturday.
Tusker had a bone to pick with Gor, having seen what looked like an outright, late victory snatched from their hands last weekend when the referee gave, then after protests from Gor players, disallowed their late winner.
“We saw what happens when a game is officiated well. Today, we beat them clean and I am happy with my players and the effort they gave in,” said Tusker coach Robert Matano.
The brewers were determined for a positive start and they had exactly that three minutes into the game when they were gifted a goal by the Gor backline.
A short backpass from Dennis Ng’ang’a intended for keeper Gad Mathews was intercepted by Shaphan, the midfielder doing the easiest of tasks, walking the ball into the net for a 1-0 lead.
It was a brilliant start, exactly what the team needed after a run of two consecutive draws. In the seventh minute Apollo Otieno had a chance when he was set up by Ibrahim Joshua for a shot from distance, but his effort rose over the bar.
In the 17th minute the Tanzanian was denied by keeper Gad when he flew to his left to parry away his header off a Daniel Sakari long throw.
Tusker’s Ibrahim Joshua glances in a header against Gor Mahia
The home side gradually built in the game and had a chance after 32 minutes, but some brilliant piece of defending from Oruchum blocked Austin Odhiambo after he had been sent through on goal by Peter Lwasa off a counter.
The home side piled the pressure, but Tusker stood firm at the back. The brewers were forced to make a change in first half added time when keeper Patrick Matasi had to go off injured after an awkward fall and was replaced by Mike Wanjala.
In the second half the home side made offensive changes with Benson Omalla and Boniface Omindi coming on.
Tusker also made changes at the restart, Humphrey Mieno, John Njuguna and Ojok coming on for Rodgers Ouma, Ibrahim and Stewart Omondi.
It was Gor who had a better start as Omondi and Omalla gave the Tusker backline torrid moments, but the experienced central defense of Charles Momanyi and Christopher Oruchum stood firm.
Tusker almost sneaked a second off a counter attack in the 52nd minute when Luvanda was released on the right. However, the winger took one extra touch that took his angle tighter and his eventual shot was saved by keeper Mathews.
Gor came close in the 63rd minute off a counter, but Omala’s dipping shot coming off the bar and the rebound being cleared away.
Tusker’s Charles Momanyi battles for the ball with Gor Mahia’s Benson Omalla
Tusker however kept the offensive pressure and were rewarded in the 69th minute when Ojok glanced in a bouncing header at the backpost, rising to meet an inviting cross from Luvanda.
It should have been three later on in the game when Ojok combined well with substitute Jackson Macharia, but the latter’s shot was blocked from close range.
Gor had a late chance to draw one back from a freekick at the edge of the box, but Ng’ang’a’s curling effort rose inches over the bar.
Meanwhile in other fixtures, Mathare United’s ride out of relegation was further hampered as they fell 2-0 to fellow strugglers Vihiga Bullets in Kakamega.
The victory saw Vihiga pull off the red zone for the first time this season while Mathare are now looking more and more like relegation candidates, the fifth loss in a row seeing them plummet a whooping 15 points out of safety.
Wazito also drop to the red zone, but might redeem themselves on Monday if they manage to beat AFC Leopards at Kasarani.
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