Matano delighted as Tusker pick another crucial win

• Tusker FC beat Mathare United 2-0
• They remain second in the standings
• Coach Matano says every game is a final for them

Tusker FC head coach Robert Matano says he was delighted with the performance of his team after they beat Mathare United 2-0 at their Ruaraka Complex backyard to remain second in the FKF Premier League.

The defending champions remain four points behind leaders Gor Mahia, who also won in midweek, beating Bandari FC 2-1 in Mombasa. However, Tusker have a match at hand.

“I am really happy with the performance of the team. In the first half, we didn’t quite click well and we had to make a tactical change in the second half and switch our formation. That really helped us because we played better and possessed the ball well. I am happy with the players and how they performed,” Matano said.

Rodgers Ouma scored two bangers in the second half to hand the team maximum points, as the brewers remained on course for the defense of their title.

Relieved to be on the scoring sheet

Rodgers Ouma celebrates his goal with members of Tusker’s technical bench

Ouma says he was relieved to be back on the scoring sheet. “It has been long since I scored and I wanted to do that today. It gives me so much motivation moving forward and I am looking forward to scoring more,” Ouma said.

Tusker had many scoring opportunities in either half, and will have only themselves to blame for not making the margin bigger.

As early as the fourth minute, the brewers had already threatened, with Charles Momanyi volleying the ball on target after a Humphrey Mieno freekick was headed his way. However, the keeper made a brilliant save to keep his side in the game.

On the other end, Mathare almost caught Tusker on the counter when Curtis Wekesa picked the ball on the left, stole a yard of space off Daniel Sakari and struck at goal, but Brian Bwire made a brilliant save.

Tusker pressure Mathare 

Action between Tusker FC and Mathare United

The brewers continued pounding the Mathare backline with Eric Otieno missing two golden opportunities from Levin Odhiambo’s crosses. Five minutes to the break they should have been 1-0 up when Sakari floated a decent cross from the right, but Shaphan Oyugi’s header flew inches wide.

In the second half, Tusker switched up and energized. Again, they were almost caught on the counter when Ronald Bebeto sneaked into the box to meet up a cross from the left, but the ball flew inches over the bar.

From the scare, Tusker knew they had to get a goal. They went ahead on the hour mark when Ouma volleyed sweetly into the box after being set up by Humphrey Mieno at the edge of the area.

Seven minutes later he added his second in similar fashion. A deep cross from Mike Oduor was collected at the backpost by Lawrence Luvanda who swung it to the edge of the six yard box. Stewart Omondi chose to lay it off for Ouma who swung another brilliant volley that the keeper watched as it shook the net.

The brewers managed to see off the result and late on had two chances from Omondi and Eric Zakayo, which both failed to hit the target.