Tusker edge City Stars, Ajwang's header stops KCB

Chemelil's David Oriki dribbles the away from Duncun Wafula of KCB during their KPL match at Nyayo Stadium on March 29, 2015.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

David Ajwang's first half header was enough to give Chemelil Sugar all the three points in a scrappy first double-header Kenyan Premier League match against KCB, at the Nyayo National Stadium, yesterday.

The 1-0 victory was the first for coach Mike Mururi in the new season and he did not hide his joy.

"Finally, we have managed to get all the three points. I am happy with the performance, but we should have won with a bigger margin. We still have a lot to do," said the former Kenyan international.

KCB were forced to make an early substitution with midfielder Victor Majid coming on in the 11th minute for injured Bethuel Warambo.

The hosts could have taken the lead in the 35th minute, but Ronald Musana's goal was ruled offside.

Two minutes later, the millers had an opportunity to punish the bankers but lanky forward Meshack Karani squandered the scoring chance, blasting wide with the goalkeeper Zachary Onyango only to beat. A few minutes later, Onyango was forced into a fine save from the former Mathare United's striker free-kick.

But in the 43rd minute, the visitors' efforts were rewarded with Ajwang' rising high above the bankers' defence to head home Collins Kisuya's corner kick.

KCB looked pretty energised in the first quarter of the second half with Musana's 46th minute surprise shot punched away by Chemelil keeper Fredrick Onyango before he tipped over the bar Tirus Omondi's long-range dipping effort.

Onyango was once again called to the rescue, coming off his line to deny Raymond Murugi a scoring chance after a poor clearance by James Omino.

And just after the hour mark, Karani had a chance to double the lead for Mike Mururi men but his header went wide before substitute Antony Ng'ang'a shot feebly into the keeper's hands.

Benjamin Chaka could have levelled the scores in the 75th minute but he fluffed his shot with Onyango denying Joshua Oyoo from close range.

Later, Jesse Were hit a brace to propel Tusker to a 2-1 win over a resilient Nairobi City Stars, in a late kick-off at the Nyayo National Stadium.

It took Were only three minutes to open the scoring, capitalising on City Stars defensive blunder to put Tusker ahead.

The former Mathare United man doubled the lead from the spot on the stroke of halftime after he was brought down in the box.

City Stars pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute through substitute Joseph Sakwa deflected shot.

In Awendo Stadium, Samuel Onyango's strike is all that Sony Sugar needed to beat visiting Ushuru 1-0.