Tusker’s struggles continue as Gor Mahia storm top

• Tusker were held to a 1-1 draw by Kariobangi Sharks
• They have won only two out of their last eight matches
• Gor Mahia beat City Stars to move top

Tusker’s new year struggles continued on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Kariobangi Sharks at their Ruaraka Complex on Saturday, dropping to fourth in the FKF Premier League standings.

David Majak came off the bench to score the leveler in the second half, cancelling out Tyson Otieno’s goal five minutes after the break. The brewers have only won two matches in the last eight, a sharp contrast from their season-opening form where they won six matches in a row.

Skipper Humphrey Mieno has admitted that the team is under pressure and has called on his teammates to dig in and give their best to salvage the situation.

“It is a tough period and definitely when things are tough, there has to be some pressure, but We need to stick together, work hard and try to salvage the situation. It is still early in the season and I believe we can bounce back,” Mieno said after the match.

The brewers didn’t have many chances in the opening minutes of the game, with Ibrahim Joshua having some half chances. His shot on the volley from the edge of the box was saved by the keeper while he also had a header from a Rodgers Ouma corner loop over.

Shami Kibwana chances

Shami Kibwana has a chance at goal

At the tail end of the half, the brewers had two good chances, but Shami Kibwana saw both go begging. A poor defensive positioning by Dan Guya saw him win the ball to face the keeper one on one, but he shot wide.

Minutes later, he won the ball on the left and dribbled his way to a pocked of space, but his shot came off the upright.

In the second half Sharks started better and just five minutes in, they broke the deadlock when Otieno fired in a volley after Tusker struggled to clear from a cross.

Immediately, the brewers should have responded but Charles Momanyi failed to guide the ball on target when Humphrey Mieno’s freekick found him unmarked at the backpost. Joshua had a neat chance with a shot on the half turn from Jackson Macharia’s pass but keeper John Otieno made a good save.

Tusker made changes, Majak, Deogratious Ojok and Eric Zakayo coming on for Joshua, Macharia and Eric Mmata. The changes saw Tusker go for a twin striking option upfront, going for power play, dumping balls into the Sharks box.

Tusker grab a goal back 

Shami Kibwana battles for the ball against Geoffrey Onyango of Kariobangi Sharks

This paid off in the 78^th minute when a long gaolkick from Patrick Matasi was huffed and puffed inside the Sharks box before Majak rifled into the net.

Despite pressure with more balls dumped in, Sharks sustained the pressure to claim a point on the road.

Meanwhile, Gor Mahia will spend the night top of the pile after edging out City Stars 1-0. Benson Omalla scored the lone goal in the 59^th minute with a shot from inside the box.

In other fixtures, KCB remained third after beating Mathare United 2-1, Bandari beat Talanta 1-0 while Posta Rangers also had a similar result against Kakamega Homeboyz in Bukhungu.