Tusker see off Sofapaka in second half blitz

• Tusker scored twice in quickfire
• The win lifts Tusker to third spot
• Sammy Omollo starts with a win at Shabana

 Tusker FC moved to third in the FKF Premier League standings courtesy of a second half blitz of goals, beating Sofapaka 3-1 at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.

Two goals in three minutes from Fabien Adikiny and Eric Kapaito got them going before Keegan Ndemi halved the deficit for Batoto ba Mungu. However, David Odoyo scored immediately to send the brewers back to a two goal advantage and a fifth successive victory.

Levin Odhiambo, playing in a new role as a winger was man of the match, providing two assists and his runs on the left being a constant threat for Sofapaka.

“It was really important for us to keep our winning run because the ambition is to reduce the gap between us and the leaders,” Odhiambo said.

“I have been really working hard to improve since I started playing in a new role and I have seen improvement every game. I want to do more for the team, keep scoring and assisting and hopefully we will be somewhere good at the end of the season,” added the former Wazito and Mathare United man.

The first half was slow, almost pedestrian for both sides. But, Sofapaka had some good chances. Early on in the game, Darius Msagha twice had efforts with shots inside the box, but they couldn’t find the target.

Sofapaka came closest after 24 minutes when Rodgers Kipkemoi took on a run from deep in his own half, slicing through the Tusker defense off a counter attack. However, his shot from the edge of the box, under pressure from Tom Teka was pushed to the bar by Brian Bwire.

Tusker with a close first half chance 

Tusker FC in action against Sofapaka.

Tusker’s closest opportunity in the opening half was in the 27^th minute when Tom Teka’s header off a Michael Kibwage cross went marginally over the bar.

In the second half, a tough talking to by coach Robert Matano seemed to have woken Tusker from their slumber.

They broke the deadlock after 58 minutes when Adikiny tapped home at the backpost after a brilliant cross from Levin. Two minutes later, they were 2-0 up, Kapaito scoring his sixth goal of the season with a crisp header off a Shaphan Oyugi cross.

But, almost immediately, Sofapaka halved the deficit when Keegan struck a brilliant shot on the half volley from the edge of the box after Tusker struggled to clear from a freekick.

While Sofapaka hoped the goal would spur a comeback, Tusker scored the third immediately, Levin once again playing provider with a well weighted cutback that was slammed home by David Odoyo.

Tusker almost added the fourth minutes later when John Njuguna, who had just come on, picked the ball from distance after a poor clearance from the keeper, but his attempt to loop into an empty net was awry as the ball went wide.

Omollo starts off well at Shabana 

Shabana FC players celebrate their win over Nzoia Sugar

Meanwhile in other matches, Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo began his tenure as Shabana FC head coach with a brilliant result, his side edging out Nzoia Sugar 5-2 in Bungoma. Omollo had just taken the team through one training session after his appointment, but his influence was openly visible.

Justine Omwando scored a hatrick for Shabana, who had to come from a goal down to turn the game on its head.

Nzoia, playing at home had a brilliant start with Emmanuel Osoro giving them a lead after 20 minutes. However, Pamzo’s Shabana roared back into contention with Omwando levelling matters just two minutes later and scoring the second seven minutes to halftime.

In the second half, Salim Murunga scored from the penalty spot to level matters once again for Nzoia, but a lapse in concentration saw Omwando complete his hatrick from the penalty spot 11 minutes to time

A quickfire brace from new signing Mathew Tegisi on his debut late on cemented the victory for Shabana, their biggest of the season.

“It was very vital for us to get these points because we really needed to get off the bottom. It gives us some good momentum and the confidence has definitely gone up,” Omolllo said after the match.