- Homeboyz beat Tusker FC 1-0
- Oliver Majak scored the lone goal in the 11th minute
- KCB and Kenya Police FC also progressed to the quarter finals
Defending champions Kakamega Homeboyz progressed to the quarter finals of the FKF MozzartBet Cup after edging out Tusker FC by a 1-0 margin, in a round of 16 match played at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu.
Oliver Majak scored the lone goal for Homeboyz, using one of their only three efforts on target the entire game, as they beat the brewers in a similar scoreline they defeated them with when they face off in the final last year.
Homeboyz head coach Patrick Odhiambo says he is confident the team will defend their title.
“This was the toughest match for us and with Tusker out, I believe we have a chance to defend the title. It was a really difficult game but we managed it very well,” said the tactician.
His opposite number Robert Matano was furious with how his team performed.
“We didn’t play at all and couldn’t handle the pressure. We had the chances to score but we just couldn’t finish. It is really disappointing because we really wanted to fight for this Cup,” Matano said after the game.
Homeboyz score early in the game
Tusker’s Chrispin Erambo in action against Homeboyz’s Eston Esiye.
Majak scored the winning goal for Homeboyz after just 11 minutes when he rose well to head in a cross from the right.
It was a great way for Homeboyz to settle into the match, having found themselves on the receiving end of the brewers fast paced attack. David Odoyo had struck a shot from the edge of the box on the volley, with keeper James Setuba collecting.
Mike Oduor also had a good effort when he picked up a poor clearance from the keeper and tried to catch him off his line, but the effort rose just inches over the bar.
Tusker tried to find their way back into the game, with John Njuguna forcing keeper Ssetuba to a one handed save from a freekick before Shaphan Siwa had a shot inside the box deflected for a corner.
In the second half, Tusker made changes to their personnel, with Eric Otieno, Fabian Adikiny, Eric Zakayo and Lawrence Luvanda coming on for Eric Kapaito, Siwa, Njuguna and Oduor.
With the offensive changes, Tusker pressed Homeboyz in their own half, and forced them to defend deep. However, they could not make the most of the balls they had as the final delivery into the area was always wanting.
Collins Otieno had a shot from the edge of the box go just wide, while a cross from Collins Odhiambo from the right was picked up by Adikiny, but the lanky forward could not land an effort on target.
Eric Otieno’s late goal cancelled
Tusker FC’s Mike Oduor in action against Kakamega Homeboyz.
Tusker thought they had a goal five minutes to the end when Eric Otieno fired a shot from inside the box after Daniel Sakari’s shot was deflected into his path, but the second assistant referee had the flag up for offside.
Despite late efforts, Tusker could not change the result of the game as Homeboyz defended well to ensure they got the win and a ticket to the last eight.
In the late kick off, Sofapaka came from two goals down to draw 2-2 and progress to the last eight after winning 5-4 on post match penalties against Division Two side Bungoma Stars.
Veteran forward Meshak Karani, who had helped Bungoma beat Premier League rivals Bandari and Talanta in the first two rounds was back again to haunt a top flight side when he gave Bungoma a ninth minute lead from the penalty spot.
Wycliffe Wanyonyi then scored to give Bungoma a 2-0 lead with a sweeping finish from inside the box after Sofapaka struggled to clear a cross.
In the second half though, Zedekiah Otieno pushed his side more and they halved the deficit in the 65th minute when skipper Humphrey Mieno struck with a long range shot.
Sofapaka complete comeback
Baron Oketch celebrates his winning penalty for Sofapaka
Quarter of an hour to the end, Sofapaka completed the comeback when Paul Odhiambo scored with a bouncing header off a Jacob Onyango cross from the right.
On penalties, it was star man Karani who missed his kick, the Sofapaka keeper punching away his effort while Baron Oketch stepped up to score the last kick for Batoto ba Mungu.
Before that, Derrick Tekkwo, Mophat Luiva, Reagan Okoth, and Reagan Osigo had scored for Bungoma.
Sofapaka’s first four were scored by Roy Okal, Mieno, Onyango and Keegan Ndemi.
In other matches played on Saturday, Police FC came from a goal down to beat Mombasa Stars 3-1 while KCB also progressed to the last eight with a similar score against Bidco United.
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