- Elvis Rupia scored a hattrick within 15 minutes
- Tusker were punished for poor defending
- This is their second loss of the season
FKF Premier League champions Tusker FC were stunned, losing 3-0 to Kenya Police courtesy of Elvis Rupia’s quickfire hattrick at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani.
Rupia scored his hattrick within the opening 16 minutes of the game to hand Police their first ever win over Tusker, while the brewers suffered their biggest loss since a similar result against Kariobangi Sharks last season.
“It was a bad day in office for us. We lost as a team and we did not play well. We have to look within ourselves and make changes. This is all part of the game, you win some and lose some. For us it is just a small mishap in the journey but we will continue with our fight,” Tusker FC head coach Robert Matano said.
The brewers had a catastrophic start to the game with Rupia giving Police the lead after just two minutes. The striker broke away on the left and managed to get into the box and outmuscle Charles Momanyi before striking low beyond Brian Bwire in the Tusker goal.
The brewers would have drawn level immediately from a freekick when Ibrahim Joshua was brought down from 25 yards out. Rodgers Ouma stepped behind the freekick and curled a brilliant ball on target, but the keeper palmed it behind for a fruitless corner.
Second opportunity for Tusker
Rodgers Ouma vies for the ball with Marvin Nabwire of Kenya Police (Right)
They had a second opportunity after 10 minutes when Ouma, who had been doing most of the running upfront volleyed a cross from the right. However, Charles Momanyi headed it straight to the keeper.
Immediately, the brewers were punished, Rupia hitting his second in the 14th minute. Tusker tried to play out from the back and Marvin Nabwire intercepted, cutting it back for Rupia to smash the ball into the net.
Two minutes later, it was disaster for the brewers as a quick throw saw Rupia played through into the box and the striker completed his hattrick.
The Tusker bench was stunned with coach Matano immediately signaling four players to warm up. He made changes close to the hour mark, pulling out Eric Zakayo and Jimmy Mbugua for Deogratious Ojok and Shaphan Oyugi.
Tusker struggle to get on their feet
Duke Abuya of Kenya Police controls the ball under pressure from Tusker’s Kalos Kirenge
Tusker struggled to get their feet into the game and they got a close opportunity with 10 minutes left to halftime when John Njuguna dribbled his way to the edge of the box, but his shot on the weaker right foot was wide. Ibrahim Joshua saw his header pushed to the upright by the keeper a minute later as Tusker sought a way back.
In the second half, they continued to push with Matano making further changes. Njuguna and Joshua were rested with Stewart Omondi and David Majak brought on to strengthen the attack. They however couldn’t gather much chances.
It was Police who had opportunities on the other end with Duke Abuya’s rasping shot coming off the side netting, before he had another opportunity saved by Bwire.
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