- Deogratious Ojok scored the winning goal against KCB
- Tusker have won five out of five
- They lead the standings with 15 points
Tusker FC finished the year on a high and with a gap at the top of the FKF Premier League standings after seeing off KCB 2-1 at the Kasarani Annex. Deogratious Ojok scored the winner for the Brewers in the second half after Nicholas Kipkurui had cancelled out Shaphan Oyugi’s early opener.
The victory saw Tusker finish off the year on top of the log with a maximum 15 points from their first five matches of the campaign.
“We are delighted of course because this is a good start. It was a really tough match against KCB and we knew from the word go they will come to pile pressure by playing a high line and pressing every moment. But I am glad the players showed composure and a spirited performance to win,” said Tusker boss Robert Matano.
The brewers have now extended their winning run to 26 matches and have lost only twice this calendar year.
Against KCB, they came into the tie seeking to win to maintain their form and they had a good start. As early as the third minute, they had threatened when Eric Zakayo teed up Boniface Onyango with a backheel, but the latter’s shot flew just over the bar.
Tusker pile the pressure on KCB
Tusker’s John Njuguna battles for the ball with KCB’s John Mwangi.
In the 14th minute, KCB were forced to clear the ball off the line after skipper Humphrey Mieno’s flick from a corner beat the keeper. The pressure finally bore fruit in the 35th minute from a set piece.
John Njuguna floated in a corner from the right evading the forest of bodies in the box and landing on Oyugi who directed it into the net with his chest. Almost immediately, they should have had a second when Zakayo’s delivery from a freekick found Mieno at the backpost but the skipper’s header greased the side netting.
Against the run of play and in the face of their dominance, Tusker were their own enemies as they gave KCB an equalizer. Oyugi turned from hero to villain as his backpass to Patrick Matasi was intercepted by Nicholas Kipkurui who slid into the box and shot into the net right at the end of the first half.
Upon resumption, KCB nearly turned the tie in their favour when off a counter, Kipkurui found himself through on goal, but Tusker keeper Patrick Matasi made a brilliant save to deny him.
Tusker chances and goal
Tusker’s Shaphan Oyugi races down for the ball with KCB’s Maurice Ojwang
On the opposite end, Tusker had a chance when Apollo Otieno picked the ball from range and went for a long ranger, but his effort was deflected for a corner.
The brewers finally found their way back into the lead in the 68th minute when Ojok scored his fourth goal of the season. The forward nodded home from close range after Mieno volleyed back the ball into the area.
The brewers made offensive changes bringing on Stewart Omondi and David Majak in a bid for fresh legs in the forward line. However, they had to live through nervous moments in the final 10 minutes of the game as KCB poured all their arsenal forward.
However, the brewers defended with precision to see off the three points and go five unbeaten.
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