Tusker cut down by Sony Sugar as AFC lose in Coast, Mathare win

BY ERNEST NDUNDA  AND GILBERT WANDERA

FC Leopards’ Paul Were beats Bandari goalkeeper, Wilson Oburu and Bandari striker, Dancan Otewa (No.2) in the  Tusker Premier league match at Mbaraki Sports Club in Mombasa,on Sartuday. Bandari won 2-1. [PHOTO: OMONDI ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Sony Sugar upset Tusker 3-2 to enhance their chances of surviving relegation in next year’s KPL at Nyayo Stadium yesterday.

With the win, Karuturi Sports were confirmed relegated since they are the only team that cannot get more than 28 points even if they win all their remaining fixtures.

Former Tusker striker Moses Arita returned to haunt his former club when he scored a hat-trick to pile more  misery on troubled coach Robert Matano. Arita scored the first goal in the eighth minute after beating Tusker goalkeeper Samuel Odhimabo with a low ball.

The brewers were back after nine minutes when Malawian striker Raquib Milanzi equalised after finishing off a Jesse Were effort.

In the 20th minute, Ali Abondo put Tusker ahead and it is the brewers who went to the break with a narrow lead.

When the second half started, Tusker kept up the pressure with Jesse Were and Raquib Milanzi combining well but failing to stretch their lead.

The winners made their first substitution in the 56th minute bringing in David Nyanzi for Steve Biko, a move that paid off as Arita got his second goal in the 63rd minute.

Former Tusker duo of Nyanzi and Arita combined well with Nyanzi beating the Tusker defence before crossing to Arita to return parity between the two team. Arita completed his rout in the 81st minute and hand Sony a lifeline.

Later, Mathare United registered a crucial 2-0 win over relegated side Karuturi Sports.

Dennis Nzomo opened for United in the 63rd minute before Edwin Ombasa added the second eight minutes later to push the winners to 10th place on the log with 32 points.

United piled pressur e in the second half after a barren first half aware that anything short of a win would compromise their chances of survival.

Bandari came from behind to snatch a breathtaking 2-1 win over AFC Leopards in a Tusker Premier League match at the Mbaraki Sports Club.

The win moved Bandari to the fourth position with 42 points while AFC chances of finishing in number two were dimmed and pray their challengers Sofapaka lose today against Western Stima at Bukhungu stadium.

However, the match was put on hold for 10 minutes after fans said to support AFC started throwing stones and bottles into the field in frustrations.

Wanga shot Leopards ahead in the 23rd minute after he intercepted a back pass from Bandari’s Abdulatiq Omar to confidently displace advancing goalkeeper Wilson Oburu to blast in the opening goal.

But Leopards celebrations were cut short in the 32nd minute after Aloyce Mangi headed home Duncan Otewa’s free kick for a 1-1 draw at halftime.

Alloyce Mangi scored the winner in the 69th minute off Abdulatiq Omar’s clean pass to sent Bandari fans into pro-longed celebrations.