- Tusker had an unbeaten run of 28 matches
- The team lost 2-1 to Bandari FC in Mombasa
- They still remain top of the FKF Premier League standings
Despite seeing their unbeaten run ended by Bandari FC in Mombasa over the weekend, Tusker FC head coach Robert Matano remains confident that his side’s run will not be deterred and they will bounce back.
The brewers had been on a run of 28 unbeaten matches which ran back all the way to January 9, 2021, but they saw the brilliant run come to an end in Mombasa.
“We weren’t in the best shape against Bandari. We made some mistakes early in the match and we were punished. But that is in the past now and we are focusing on the next match. It is not about being unbeaten but going for our target which is winning the league,” said the coach.
He added; “Our next focus is on Nzoia and we will prepare well to go for a win.”
Against bandari, Tusker were poor and conceded very early through Umaru Kasumba. Andrew Juma added the second for a 2-0 halftime lead before Jackson macharia started a futile comeback with a goal early in the second half.
Jittery from the start
Tusker’s Isaac Kipyegon clears the ball
The brewers were jittery from the start and they almost conceded the first when keeper Patrick Matasi rushed off his line and William Wadri beat him to the ball for a cross. However, Kasumba volleyed the ball over.
In the ninth minute, again, another moment of madness from Matasi saw Bandari score. The keeper rushed off his line but was undecided whether to pick the ball or kick and Kasumba won the ball and tapped into an empty net.
Bandari were dominant and they continued piling the pressure on Tusker who struggled to register an effort on target. The closest they came was when Charles Momanyi flicked a header from a Daniel Sakari long throw.
They found themselves 2-0 down after 31 minutes when defender Juma sneaked in at the near post to head from a Wadri corner. It was the first time in almost two years that Tusker were going 2-0 down within the opening half.
In the second half though, coach Robert Matano made changes, bringing in Macharia, Eric Otieno and Deogratious Ojok for Eric Zakayo, Stewart Omondi and Rodgers Ouma.
Changes pay dividends
Bandari’s Douglas Mokaya against Tusker’s Eric Zakayo
The changes paid dividends immediately as Macharia scored one back in the 52nd minute when he picked the ball behind the defense and poked it behind the keeper.
The goal gave Tusker some renewed confidence and they dumped more balls into the Bandari half to try get the equalizer. They had some half chances with Macharia and David Majak having shots inside the box blocked.
Bandari had changed formation going five at the back with the introduction of Meja Atariza and Siraj Mohamed on the right and left side of defense and this gave Tusker room in midfield to dominate play. However, the brewers didn’t find a way into goal.
They were almost caught out in the 89th minute on a counter attack, but their former player Chris Ochieng failed to pull the trigger in time, with the backtracking Kevin Monyi poking the ball off his feet.
Despite the defeat, Tusker remain top of the standings with 18 points, one ahead of Nzoia Sugar who played to a 1-1 draw with Kakamega Homeboyz in the other fixture.
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