Tusker FC suffered a massive 3-0 defeat at the hands of Kariobangi Sharks on Sunday evening as pressure mounted on the misfiring Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League defending champions.
The brewers have lost three of their first five games of the season, just two shy of the entire number of matches they lost when they clinched the title last season.
Pressure is now mounting on head coach Robert Matano especially after heavy recruitment at the start of the season with results yet to reflect.
“It was a very bad day in office and this is what happens when you don’t take your chances. We had our chances in the first half but just three mistakes in the second half and we were punished. It is a strong wake up call for our players,” said the tactician, visibly dejected after the loss to a side they have beaten with ease over the last three seasons.
Tusker FC striker Joshua Ibrahim in action against Kariobangi Sharks
Second half goals from Felix Oluoch, Sydney Lokale and Patrick Otieno handed Sharks the massive victory, taking them to 13 points, just one behind leaders Gor Mahia after six rounds of matches.
Tusker will have only themselves to blame for the loss especially after dominating the chances in the first half, only to collapse within 20 minutes of the second half.
Just after two minutes, the brewers had a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock. Jackson Macharia was sent through on goal on the left, but took a hurried decision to shoot with the weaker let foot, the effort going wide with the keeper less troubled.
Tusker kept the possession and moved forward well, but their decision making in the final third always let them down.
Sharks keeper Brandon Obiero made a brilliant save in the 36th minute, diving to his right to punch away a ferocious shot from Apollo Otieno after he was teed up by Shami Kibwana. At the stroke of halftime, Tusker came close to grabbing the lead when Shami improvised a bicycle kick inside the box, but his effort went just wide from Daniel Sakari’s cross.
Tusker started the second half strongly as well. Joshua should have done better in the 63rd minute when a searching ball from Apollo found his run into the box, but the striker could only shoot wide.
Kariobangi Sharks defender Geoffrey Shiveka vies for the ball with Ulinzi’s John Njuguna
The missed opportunities came back to haunt them. They were 1-0 down after 66 minutes when defender Kalos Kirenge fumbled with possession just a few yards off his box and on-form striker Oluoch picked the ball up and struck low to beat Brian Bwire at his near post.
The goal threw Tusker off balance and handed more confidence to Sharks. It took them 10 minutes to double their tally, this time substitute Lokale scoring. The lanky forward picked up the ball from a quick throw in before switching on the turn, taking a shot with his weaker right foot.
Another substitute, Otieno, scored the third goal virtually out of nothing.
A long ball from keeper Obiero was flicked by Lokale to Otieno who struck a first time shot catching keeper Bwire off guard.
Tusker were stunned, and with barely quarter of an hour left, couldn’t compose themselves to hunt for an equalizer.
Meanwhile in other matches, Kakamega Homeboyz and Ulinzi Stars remained unbeaten despite dropping points. Homeboyz were held to a 1-1 draw by Bandari in Kakamega in a dramatic match that ended in chaos.
In Nakuru, Ulinzi Stars played to a scintillating 2-2 draw with Premier League new boys FC Talanta.
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