- Tusker had fallen 2-0 down after 16 minutes
- Charles Momanyi scored a late equalizer
- Police FC also drew 2-2 with Nzoia Sugar
Tusker FC rescued a point from the jaws of defeat on Thursday coming from 2-0 down to play to a 2-2 draw with Ulinzi Stars at their Ulinzi Sports Complex in Lang’ata. Charles Momanyi scored a last gasp equalizer for the second successive game after Humphrey Mieno’s thunderbolt had given the brewers a way back into the match.
“We started the match slow and made some mistakes that led to us conceding two very easy goals. But I must laud the players and the team for the work they put in to come back. I am delighted to score once again but now, I want to be scoring winning goals, not just equalizers. As a team we have picked the lessons and will move forward a better team,” Momanyi said after the match.
Coach Robert Matano added; “It was a great comeback but once again we were made to pay for some mistakes in defense. We have to learn from the mistakes and ensure we improve before our next match.”
The brewers had a horrid start to the match and found themselves trailing 2-0 inside the first 16 minutes, conceding two goals in three minutes.
They broke the deadlock after 14 minutes from the penalty spot after Boniface Muchiri was brought down inside the box by Michael Kibwage. Hillary Simiyu stepped forward to send Brian Bwire the wrong way and break the deadlock.
Muchiri destroys Tusker again
Humphrey Mieno of Tusker FC battles for the ball
Two minutes later, Muchiri, a former Tusker FC player, created the second goal, this time intercepting a short backpass from Momanyi before squaring for Masita Masuta who swept the ball home.
Tusker were stunned, their moments of madness reminiscent to when they conceded three in 12 minutes against Police FC.
The brewers tried to have their way back into contention with David Odoyo having a drive from range go wide while Deogratious Ojok’s connection from a cross on the left was turned behind for a corner by the keeper.
The brewers couldn’t find a way back and they went to the break trailing by two.
In the second half, they started with pace and were halfway done with the comeback six minutes in when skipper Humphrey Mieno drilled home a brilliant shot from the edge of the area after a corner was half cleared to his path.
The goal gave Tusker some belief and from there they were on attack mode. The brewers hit the woodwork three times from then. Two minutes after the goal, John Njuguna picked the ball from distance and curled a shot at goal but hit the base of the upright.
Ojok with an effort wide
Deogratious Ojok of Tusker FC attempts a header at goal.
Ojok then had an overhead effort from Daniel Sakari’s cross miss the target by a whisker before they hit the post again, this time Shaphan Oyugi clipping the ball over the keeper from close range but was denied by the bar.
Coach Robert Matano made changes, Odoyo, Ojok and Shaphan making ay for Jackson Macharia, Stewart Omondi and Rodgers Ouma.
In the 74th minute they were denied by the frame of goal once again, this time Momanyi’s glancing header from Daniel Sakari’s long throw rolling over the crossbar.
The brewers kept pushing and they were rewarded in the fourth minute of added time when Momanyi volleyed home from close range after Macharia nodded down a long throw from Sakari.
From another Sakari long throw, Tusker could have won the game at the death, but Stewart Omondi shot over from inside the box.
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