Tusker edge AFC Leopards to retain Top-8 title, Chemelil add to KCB woes as Thika edge Mathare in KPL

Tusker brought to a screeching halt AFC Leopards’ winning streak and retained the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Top-8 after winning 2-1 at Meru Stadium yesterday.

Before yesterday’s loss, Leopards had won twice, stopping Gor Mahia 3-1 and thumping KCB 3-0.

The losers missed head coach Pieter De Jongh who travelled out of the country on Saturday night  to be with his mother who was undergoing an operation.

Stand in coach Abdalla Juma said he was disappointed by the loss but nonetheless praised his boys for putting up a brave fight in the match.

“We played well but were let down by poor defending. My boys were a bit anxious, we should have done better. However, we will now focus on the league,” he said.

Yesterday’s win continued a good run by the brewers who are yet to lose a match since adopting Meru Stadium as their home-ground where they enjoy plenty of support from fans.

The first half of yesterday’s match was an exciting affair that was decided by two set-pieces.  First  Lloyd Wahome headed home a perfectly curved corner kick by Kevin Kimani in the 11th minute.

Then in the 35th minute Leopards were back in the match and this time towering defender Joseph Shikokoti headed home from an Abdalla Juma free kick.

first chance

It was Leopards who got the first chance to go ahead with Jacob Keli shooting directly at Samuel Odhiambo in the Tusker goal after five minutes of play.

One minute later, Wycliffe Kasaya stopped an intended through ball to Clifford Alwanga from Aboud Omar and it looked like the best chance for the brewers to go ahead.

The action kept shifting from coast to coast and a minute after Kasaya’s save it was the turn of Samuel Odhiambo to save the brewers as he denied Paul Were with the effort resulting in the first corner for Leopards.

Tusker preferred to use the flanks from which they launched their attacks. They were especially dominant on the left side of the pitch and it is from here that they won their first corner of the match in the 11th minute and resulted in the opener.

Leopards had trouble

Leopards had trouble marking against corner kicks and indeed all set-pieces. They have conceded the second goal from Tusker’s second corner of the match which Omar placed at the feet of Bob Mugalia, but the Congolese wasted.

Mugalia ended the first half on a caution as did team mate Clifford Alwanga. James Situma and Eric Masika were also cautioned in the Leopard’s side.

Meanwhile, Chemelil Sugar inched closer to regaining the Kenyan Premier League top spot after beating Kenya Commercial Bank 2-0 with a brace from Meshack Karani.

Cheered on by scores of fans who thronged Chemelil Sports Complex from Kisumu and Nandi Hills, Chemelil Sugar, who are due to launch fan kitting programme, dominated proceedings in the first-half.

The millers’ unrelenting efforts paid dividend in the 39th minute with new signing Karani scoring the opener.

Karani scored the icebreaker following a combined move with diminutive teammate Gerson Likonoh.

After the break, Chemelil continued dominating the match officiated by Nairobi-based central referee Damaris Kimani.

Chemelil extended their lead in the 60th minute with Karani’s blistering shot past custodian George Okinda after getting a cross from Hillary Echesa.