Defending champions pip debutants in mid-week league action at Kasarani as Gor and Ulinzi share spoils in tight duel
After a poor start to their title defence, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League defending champions Tusker made amends with a 2-1 win over newcomers Kenya Police at Moi International Sports Centre (MISC) Annex yesterday.
This was Tusker’s second win in four matches in the 2021/2022 season and which enabled them to move to 10tth position on the chart. They had initially lost to AFC Leopards and Talanta.
Interestingly, it was Police who were quicker off the blocks, with former AFC Leopards striker Samuel Ndung’u giving them a deserved lead only two minutes into the match.
After launching raids of their own, former Gor Mahia striker Cliffton Miheso took a corner kick with the ball falling in the path of Ndung’u who powered it home with a bullet header past the helpless Tusker goalkeeper Brian Bwire.
The tide then changed with Tusker holding sway four minutes later, Tanzanian import Ibrahim Joshua equalized for the champions with an opportunistic strike.
In the 40th minute, an infringement inside the Police box saw the Tusker awarded a penalty which Shami Kibwana converted for the winning goal.
Tusker coach Robert Matano expressed delight at how his players carried themselves after the loss to Talanta.
“We started slowly but gradually picked ourselves up. I’m satisfied with the performance of the team against a worthy opponent,” said Matano, whose team shall face CS Sfaxien of Tunisia in the CAF Confederation Cup later this month.
Police unleashed their newly signed Duke Abuya, but he failed to make major impact in the match.
In another midweek match, reccord league winners Gor Mahia shared spoils with Ulinzi in a top of the table clash at Thika stadium as they played to a barren draw.
Both coaches were contented by the point apiece, with Gor Mahia tactician referring the duel as very entertaining.
“ We played against a very disciplined side but I thought we had our time on the first half but did not capitalise on the slight advantage we had.
The important thing is that we did not lose nor concede plus we are still on the top of the table,”he said.
His counterpart Stephen Ochola on his part praised the overall character of his charges.
“ We respect our opponents who are a very good side.However we did great in this match and I am proud of how my boys played so we look ahead to the next encounter,”s aid Ochola whose side are fourth on the log with 11 points.
