- Tusker beat Bidco United 3-2
- Eric Kapaito scored twice and had an assist
- The win moves the Brewers to 12th spot
Eric Kapaito put up a superb first half performance with two goals and an assist as Tusker bounced back to winning ways, edging out Bidco United 3-2 in a rescheduled FKF Premier League fixture at the SportPesa Arena in Murang’a.
It was a relieving performance for Kapaito, who had not scored a single goal since completing his move to the brewers early in the season following a sojourn in Ethiopia.
A pair of goals in extra time of either half had given Bidco some belief, but Tusker managed to old on to the win and move to 12th in the standings with 19 points.
“I am really relieved because I had searched for the goal for a long time. I had been working hard and I remained patient because I knew it would come soon. I am glad it has and also for the team that we have won,” said the forward.
Head coach Robert Matano was equally elated with the performance, especially coming after a frustrating weekend game where they played to a 0-0 draw with Posta Rangers at home.
“We worked really well and took our chances. We controlled most parts of the game but we still have a lot to work on defensively,” said the tactician.
His Bidco counterpart Anthony Akhulia was not pleased with his side’s performance on the day, though he noted they did better in the second half.
Conceding very early
Action between Bidco united and Tusker FC
“We conceded very early then before we settled we had a second goal. That really disrupted our game plan and changed everything for us. In the second half we were better and we actually wanted to get the second goal early because we knew that would give us an edge,” the tactician noted.
Bidco had started the match brighter, controlling possession and letting Tusker do the chasinh. But all that was erased after 15 minutes when an error at the back gifted Tusker the opener. A short backpass to the keeper was intercepted by Mike Oduor, who poked the ball for Kapaito to finish for his first goal in Tusker colors.
The goal lifted Tusker’s spirits and they pressed more, as they gained confidence. They went 2-0 up after 29 minutes when Shaphan Oyugi netted from some good play by the Brewers.
Mike Oduor floated a brilliant cross from the left, knocked down by Kapaito’s header, with Oyugi following up with a sweeping volley into the net.
Minutes later they could have scored a brilliant third off a counter, keeper Brian bwire collecting the ball from a freekick and sending a one-time long pass to Stewart Omondi. However, the winger’s effort on the half volley dinked inches wide.
Brewers get the third goal
Action between Bidco united and Tusker FC
The brewers however got their third in the 44th minute from the penalty spot, Kapaito tucking the ball hard and low into the far right after Oduor’s cross was handled inside the box.
Bidco pulled one back in added time when skipper Peter Nzuki flicked the ball home from close range after a freekick was pulled back to the edge of the box and met by a swinging pass from Martin Nderitu.
In the second half, Bidco were more resolute and they forced Tusker to play in their own half straight from the start. They had close chances with Nderitu firing a shot against the crossbar after a good move on the left, before substitute Samuel Ndung’u forced keeper Brian Bwire into a low smart save after a quick shot inside the box.
On the other end, Tusker’s closest chance came off Kapaito again, the forward controlling the ball well at the edge of the box but his eventual shot was over the bar.
Bidco’s pressure bore fruit in added time, substitute Ezekiel Okare tapping the ball into an empty net after keeper Bwire had done well to push Ndung’u’s shot from inside the box against the upright.
However, it was a little too late as the game ended immediately after the restart.
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