Tusker drop two goal lead to draw against City Stars

• Kapaito and Kibwage had given Tusker a 2-0 lead
• City Stars scored a late equalizer through Bejaber
• The brewers fluffed their chance of going second

Tusker FC conceded a 91^st minute penalty, scored by Mohamed Bejaber, as they dropped a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Nairobi City Stars at the Police Sacco Stadium.

Goals from Eric Kapaito, his 11^th of the season, and Mike Kibwage, had given Tusker a 2-0 lead at halftime, and they should have wrapped up the game with more chances on their way but were wasteful.

Samuel Kapen’s deflected shot in the 72^nd minute started  the fightback for City Stars, before Japanese Yuto Kusaba won a 91^st minute penalty converted by Bejaber as City Stars scraped for the point.

The brewers felt it was two points dropped, with assistant coach George Maina saying the changes they made in the second half proved detrimental to their battle for maximum points.

“The players who came in really didn’t click into the game and that is how we lost the game. We lost concentration at vital points in the match and that cost us a lot. For us this feels like a loss. These are points dropped especially because we had so many chances to score and win the game comfortably,” Maina said.

He added; “We need to pick vital lessons from this game and push to be better in the remaining matches of the season.”

Tusker with a good start into the game

Tusker FC’s Eric Zakayo makes an attempt at goal.

Tusker had a good start in the game and broke the deadlock in the 13^th minute when Kibwage scored his first goal for Tusker FC. The defender, who has been deployed in defensive midfield over the last two games, swung in a volley at the back post after the keeper punched a corner into his feet.

City Stars almost sounded an immediate response on the other end, but keeper Brian Bwire pulled a brilliant save to deny Kapen, who had swung a volley from the edge of the box.

But, Tusker had good control of the game and they had another chance in the 25^th minute when Kibwage won the ball on the left before spreading out to Mike Oduor, but the latter’s low shot missed the target by a whisker.

Bwire was called into action once again, this time making another brilliant point blank save to deny Dennis Oalo.

Tusker were living dangerously and they needed a second goal to calm the pressure and they did so on the hour mark, Kapaito striking his 11^th goal of the season with a neat header unmarked inside the box off an Oduor delivery from the right.

Tusker miss more chances

Tusker FC’s Shaphan Oyugi in action against CIty Stars.

They should have been 3-0 up with five minutes to the break when Kapaito cut back a cross from the left for David Odoyo to strike, but the latter’s shot was blocked by the keeper and Shaphan Oyugi failed to latch on the rebound.

The brewers had another chance when Shaphan won the ball at the edge of the City Stars box and teed up Mike Oduor, but the winger could not land an effort on target as his shot flew over the bar.

In the second half, Tusker started with as much pace and had more chances to score. Ten minutes from the restart, Kapaito was presented with a golden chance when he broke through on goal from an Oguta pass, but he failed to beat the keeper one on one.

From dodging bullets, City Stars found some confidence and they began to build into the game and they found a way back in the 72^nd minute when Kapen’s shot from the right deflected off Boniface Onyango to halve the deficit.

The goal inspired some confidence and the comeback was completed in added time when substitute Yuto came down under a challenge from Daniel Sakari inside the box. Bejaber stepped up to score and win a point for City Stars.