- Deogratious Ojok scored a late controversial winner for Tusker
- Leaders Kakamega Homeboyz drew 2-2 with Kenya Police
- Tusker are now six points behind the leaders
Tusker FC moved to within six points of FKF Premier League leaders Kakamega Homeboyz after a 2-1 last gasp win over AFC Leopards at the Kasarani Stadium. Deogratious Ojok stepped off the bench to score the winner for Tusker.
Meanwhile, leaders Kakamega Homeboyz were held to a 2-2 draw by Kenya Police FC, the result meaning Tusker are now six points behind, with three rounds of matches left and the two sides yet to play against each other.
The brewers were headed for a draw after Ojo Olaniyi had equalized for Leopards with seven minutes left, but Ojok struck at the death in a goal that drew the ire of the Leopards technical bench, fans and players as they protested the goal was scored from an offside position.
“I had a look at the clip and he was clearly offside. I think we were robbed. But again we should not have lost the ball where we lost it at before the cross was played. I am impressed with my young team and for sure, there are good things to come ahead,” said AFC head coach Patrick Aussems.
Ojok ran between AFC’s two central defenders, picking up a cross from Daniel Sakari before comfortably slotting into the net to stun Leopards and hand Tusker three vital points.
Tusker’s Lawrence Luvanda takes a strike at goal
It had come just 10 minutes after Ojo Olaniyi had equalized for Leopards, flicking the ball into the bottom left after it was played back into the area from a freekick.
Leopards had been gifted after ending the first half on a high and beginning the second on high gear as well, but Tusker’s backline managed to thwart most of the danger.
Tusker had a brilliant start to the match, pinning Leopards in their own half and creating chance after chance. In the fifth minute, an inch perfect cross from Luvanda found Ibrahim Joshua isolated in the box, but the Tanzanian’s header was well saved by Levis Opiyo in AFC’s goal.
Two minutes later, an interchange of passes between Humphrey Mieno and John Njuguna saw the latter send Luvanda through with a brilliant through ball. The winger made a good run on the left but his final shot missed the target by a whisker.
He however got his goal and was gifted for a good start in the 13th minute. Shaphan Oyugi picked the ball in midfield from Charles Momanyi’s headed clearance before sending Luvanda through on the right.
Tusker’s John Njuguna vies for the ball with AFC’s Cliff Nyakeya
The winger did well to glide past keeper Opiyo before slotting into an empty net for his first goal in Tusker colors. This was his second goal contribution in as many matches, having laid off an assist against Gor Mahia last weekend.
The brewers should have had a second in the 18th minute when Ibrahim did well to beat Joachim Oluoch on the left, but his eventual shot rolled across the face of goal.
Six minutes later, AFC were feeling the pressure and they had a big let off, this time Joachim clearing Sakari’s effort off the line. The right back had made a marauding run on the right before breaking into the box and dinking over the keeper, but the ball was cleared a millimetre away from being a goal.
Tusker’s Ibrahim Joshua is tackled by AFC’s Peter Thiong’o
The visitors however gradually grew into the game and they had a chance when John Makwatta made a quick turn at the edge of the box, but his shot flew over the bar. The striker had another chance when he broke away on the left, but Christopher Oruchum made a vital block to deny him.
In the second half, they kept their offensive advantage. Substitute Olaniyi had a chance when he broke away on the left but his shot was saved by Patrick Matasi. On the hour mark, there was a huge let off when Victor Omune dinked the ball behind the defense but luckily, Makwatta’s volley went over.
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