Mieno double taps Bandari as Tusker dumps Twahir's Dockers out of KPL Top 8 tourney

TUSKER VS ULINZI Tusker FC's Humfrey Mieno, left, guard ball from Ulinzi's Brian Birgen during KPL Match at Ruaraka grounds on Wednesday, March 25th, 2015. PHOTO/ JONAH ONYANGO.

Humphrey Mieno hit a brace as two-time Kenyan Premier League Top 8 Tournament winners Tusker edged out Bandari 2-1 in the first quarterfinal match at the Nyayo National Stadium, yesterday.

The victory left Tusker assistant coach George Owoko a happy man, heaping praise on Mieno for his man-of-the-match performance.

“It’s all about preparation, but we are proud of our fringe team’s performance. You can see the hunger amongt the players and everybody is eager to reclaim the trophy,” Owoko told Feverpitch.

“Mieno is a technically gifted player capable of doing anything. He’s actually kept his promise of scoring in the match.”

But for Bandari coach Twahir Muhiddin, poor defending cost them the match.

“This is my 38th year of coaching, so there is no pressure at all. Those worries should be on other areas. We had talked about Tusker’s reliance on the crosses and I had told my fullbacks to restrict the crosses, but we were not consistent. Instead of marking players we marked the space and that’s how we conceded the two goals,” said Muhiddin.

Bandari took the lead through Edwin Lavatsa’s 13th minute long-range thunderous shot that flew past goalkeeper Martin Musalia before Mieno tapped home Ronald Musana’s cross to level matters.

Anthony Ndolo could have doubled the lead in the 24th minute but the former Sofapaka man shot feebly into goalkeeper Wilson Obungu’s hands. However, moments later Ndolo forced a fine save from Obungu before Musana’s goal was disallowed for an infringement on the Bandari goalkeeper.

Seven minutes after the break, Obungu pulled off a series of brilliant saves. But in the 58th minute, Mieno scored his second goal of the day from Jackson Macharia’s cross to make it 2-1.

Bandari could have drawn level in the 70th minute, but substitute Shaban Kenga’s attempt was well dealt with by Tusker shot-stopper Martin Musalia.