RETURN TO SENDER: Posta Rangers dispatch Tusker as Muhoroni hold Mathare United

Tusker's Eugine Asike, left vie for the ball with Dennis Mukaisi of Posta Rangers during Sportpesa Premier league at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday, April 24, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Joseph Mbugi’s penalty kick was all that Posta Rangers needed to deny Tusker a chance to go to the top of the Kenyan Premier League table after beating them 1-0 at the Nyayo National Stadium, yesterday.

In the second match at the same venue, leading scorer Wycliffe Ochomo was on target as Muhoroni Youth restricted Mathare United to a 1-1 draw.

Despite the draw, Mathare are still top of the table with 21 points after their closest rivals Tusker (21) lost by a solitary goal to Posta Rangers.

Muhoroni took an early lead when Ochomo beat Mathare’s defence in the second minute to take his season tally to seven goals.

Whyvonne Isuza volleyed home Chrispinus Oduor’s cross to draw level in the 16th minute. Ochomo was then booked for tackling Eric Johanna from behind.

In the 23rd minute, Ochomo set up Abbas Akinyemi but the Nigerian fluffed his shot.

The visitors had a chance to double the lead in the 80th minute, but their penalty appeal was turned down by the referee after Lwamba Bebeto was brought down in the box.

In the first match, Rangers’ victory against Tusker saw the mail men (17 points) leapfrog Kakamega Homeboyz into fourth place on the table.

Both teams had to finish the game with one man less after Duncan Otieno (Rangers) and Shafik Batambuze (Tusker) received their second bookings for time wasting and dangerous tackles respectively.

The brewers were mostly restricted to their own half under pressure from Rangers in the opening 25 minutes with no shot on goal.

Rangers could have taken an early lead but they were denied two clear penalties by the centre referee Raphael Nduati in the opening five minutes; first Timothy Otieno was fouled by Tusker goalkeeper David Okello in the box before his teammate Joseph Nyaga was also brought down by the opposing defender.

After the match, Rangers head coach claimed that the referee made a ‘mistake’ by denying them two clear penalties but said he was impressed with his team’s display.

“We should just concentrate on the one penalty that was awarded, but if referee didn’t see the other two then they didn’t happen. But at least we deserved two penalties,” Otieno told Feverpitch. Full story www.standardmedia.co.ke

“All the same I am pleased with my players’ general performance. That’s a fantastic performance, bearing in mind that we had dropped two points against Bandari. But I knew that when we score first, there is no way they will equalise.”

In the 23rd minute, Rangers midfielder Duncan Otieno forced a fine save from Okello for a corner that saw Jockins Atudo’s header hit the cross bar.

Tusker’s first shot on target came in the 28th minute through Humphrey Mieno’s free kick after Hashim Mukhwana’s foul on 12 but was cleared to safety by Rangers’ backline Michael Khamati squandered an opening scoring opportunity.

Two minutes later, Joseph Mbugi calmly broke the deadlock from the spot after Nyaga was tripped by Eugene Asike.

Collins Shivachi could have drawn level in the 35th minute but his free kick was blocked by Rangers’ wall before goalkeeper Patrick Matasi came off his line to parry away Mieno’s long-range attempt.

Tusker were then forced to make an early substitution with injured Luis Khamadi paving the way for Noah Wafula after pulling a hamstring.

Danson Kago then saw his effort go wide as Rangers held a slim 1-0 lead at half time.

Abdalla Salim could have doubled the lead after the break but his goal-bound shot was blocked by the opposing defender before Nyaga’s effort was also blocked in the area.

Tusker responded immediately, but Shafik Batambuze’s shot went wide.

Wafula had a chance to draw level in the 80th minute but he feebly shot into the hands of Matasi.

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