Tusker FC players during the match against Wazito FC
Tusker were beaten 2-1 away to relegation fighting Muhoroni Youth
They are now two points behind Gor who won 2-0 against Ulinzi
There are two matches left before the season ends
Tusker FC head coach Robert Matano has vowed his team will fight on till the last match after dropping to second in the FKF Premier League standings following last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to relegation fighting Wazito FC in Muhoroni.
With Gor Mahia winning 2-0 in Nairobi against Ulinzi Stars, the leadership on top of the standings swapped, with Gor going on top with a two-point advantage of Tusker who now dropped to second place, with two rounds of matches left.
‘We will not give up. We will fight to the end. We lost in Muhoroni because we just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net. We had the chances to score, but our finishing was not good. But we look ahead and we have two matches left. Nothing is lost and anything can happen,” the tactician stated.
Against Wazito, Collins Neto scored a brace, including a late penalty as the brewers’ title hopes were crushed. Eric Mmata scored Tusker’s consolation, but they couldn’t hold on for even a point.
For Wazito, the victory was a massive one in the fight down under, as they moved to 26 points, four ahead of the automatic drop zone now occupied by Mathare United who lost by a solitary goal to Kakamega Homeboyz.
They now only need to pick a point in their next match to affirm their place in the play-off zone, and condemn Mathare to relegation.
Wazito meant business against Tusker from the word go as they piled in the pressure, forcing Tusker to defend deep. After just 14 minutes, they broke the deadlock.
Neto breaks the deadlock for Wazito
Kevin Monyi of Tusker FC wins the ball ahead of Collins Neto of Wazito FC
Neto picked a long ball dipped behind the defense, and he rifled an unstoppable volley past Brian Bwire. It was the first open play goal that the brewers were conceding in 13 matches.
Urged on by their fans who had thronged the stadium to push them forward, Wazito camped in Tusker’s half and they almost scored the second when Stephen Mbulere broke on the counter but his shot drifted just wide.
Neto was denied by the woodwork 13 minutes to the break off a counter when he landed some space in the opposition box.
In the second half, Tusker came back determined to draw the tie into their favour and just five minutes in, they were denied by the bar when Shaphan Oyugi’s dipping shot from the right rolled over the woodwork.
Denied by the bar again
Charles Momanyi of Tusker FC battling for the ball
Two minutes later, they were denied by the frame of goal again, this time Charles Momanyi’s glancing header from a corner coming off the upright. David Odoyo pounced on the rebound, but he sent his effort over the bar.
They were handed a way back in the 80th minute when Mmata glanced home a header from Levin Odhiambo’s corner.
While they thought they had a way back and were pushing for a possible winner, the brewers suffered an 87th minute sucker punch when Charles Momanyi handled inside the box.
Neto stepped forward and sent Bwire the wrong way to score the winner for Wazito.
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