By Gilbert Wandera
NAIROBI; KENYA: Tusker edged out Mathare United 3-1 to sail through to the semi-finals of Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Top Eight tournament at Nyayo National Stadium.
The brewers were scored through Jesse Were, Michael Olunga and Ismail Dunga while Meshack Karani pulled one back for the losers with a late strike that will do well to inspire them.
Ahead of Wednesday’s fixture, Tusker coach Robert Matano was a worried man following a run of poor form by his strikers in previous matches and they were keen to end the trend.
“This is a big relief for us. Our strikers are geeting their spark,” said Matano.
Jesse Were, who was guilty of throwing away open chances when Tusker drew 1-1 against AFC Leopards during Saturday’s KPL match, was keen to atone his less than impressive performance and found himself on the score sheet after just nine minutes.
Were, a former United striker, caught goalkeeper Joseph Ruto napping with a long range shot but he chose not to celebrate the goal in respect to his former club.
Apart from Were, Tusker also fielded Andrew Tololwa another former United striker and like the scorer he too was a thorn in flesh to his former club.
Great recovery
Tololwa had a chance in the 15th minute to punish his former club but he delayed to shoot allowing Lloyd Wahome to quickly recover and end the danger.
In between United also had a chance to equalise matters when Gabriel Nduro beat an off-side trap only to be denied by Samuel Odhiambo in goal.
Mathare United were enjoying great possession in the first half though Tusker quickly ended the advantage as they created two more chances before the half hour mark.
First, Martin Kiiza’s cross found Tololwa unmarked but the striker headed wide. Then Were out-paced Edgar Ochieng in the United defence but his last effort to score was pushed out for a fruitless corner.
Close shave
United’s advantage in possession nearly paid off at the 37th minute mark when Vincent Okello’s free kick hit the Tusker wall but luckly it ricochet to land in the hands of Odhiambo in goal.
Michael Olunga then sunk United hearts with a powerful free kick in the 38th minute that beat Ruto in goal for Tusker’s second. However, it was the losers who ended the first half on the high after Gabriel Nduro missed by inches to reduce the deficit.
As the second half started, the brewers were in a hurry to ensure victory and Ismail Dunga was on the mark in the 57th minute. United then staged a determined come-back and were rewarded in the 80th with Meshack Karani scoring.
Elsewhere, Nakumatt edged out Moyas 2-1 in Wednesday’s Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Division One match also played at Nyayo National Stadium marking the first live broadcast fixture since SuperSport signed a deal to televise lower division ties.
Nakumatt scored their first goal in the 10th minute through Peter Nzuki before he added another goal in the 25th minute as the winners went to the break enjoying a 2-0 lead.
However in the second half, Moyas came back more strongly and were rewarded in the 51st minute through Shadrack Ochieng.
