Brewers halt Leopards Unbeaten run

Reigning Kenyan Premier League champions, Tusker answered the question that has been on the lips of football fans from the start of the season by handing the hitherto unbeaten AFC Leopards their first defeat of the season.

The brewers cashed in on uncharacteristic howlers from Leopards goalkeeper, Patrick Matasi, to put the felines to the sword with two strikes in the second half.

The second of these goals was indeed bizarre. Luke Ochieng, who had just substituted Paul Were, delivered a big throw in which Matasi fluffed before a stunned sea of blue and white Ingwe fans at at Mombasa’s Mbaraki Sports Club.

After a scoreless first half, Brian Mandela had stubbed in the opener in the 55th minute through a forest of legs in the box after Matasi had failed deal with a corner.

With time running out and Leopards keen to keep their record intact, Jan Koops threw in Brian Misiolo, Laurent Tumba and Oscar Kadenge into the fray in place of regulars Jimmy Bageya, Allan Wanga and Bernard Mang’oli.

The substitutions seemed to inject some energy into the Leopards, who up to that point had played second fiddle to Tusker.

But Tusker stood firm in defence with Leopards only real half a chance being Jonas Nahimana’s riffled shot from distance in the 78th minute which flashed across the face of goal.

Leopards’ ineptitude in defending set pieces was however exposed in the 83rd minute when Ochieng came in to double Tusker’s lead in the most unorthodox of ways.

Though Tusker were content to wind down the clock in the final stages, Kenneth Wendo, who had spurned three decent chances earlier on, stung Matasi’s palms with a cracker in the final minute of stoppage time.

Ulinzi Stars 1 Gor Mahia 0

Former league champions, Ulinzi Stars, made good their warning that they would gun down Gor Mahia in the meeting in Nakuru.

Before the match, Ulinzi coach Sammy Simiyu has warned Gor to tread carefully when they visit the Rift Valley town.

KPL’s 2011 Golden boot winner, Stephen Waruru, scored the all-important goal in the 43rd minute to ensure that for the third time this season Gor left Afraha Stadium without a win.

In their two previous matches at the venue, Gor has managed a barren draw with Sony Sugar before succumbing to a 0-1 to Oserian.

KCB 1 Karuturi Sports 2

At Nairobi City Stadium, Allan Otindo struck twice to hand the visiting Naivasha flower men a 2-1 win over KCB. The bankers’ sole goal was netted by Clifford Alwanga.

Other results: Mathare United 0 Western Stima 0 Sony Sugar 3 Rangers 1

Nesta Kizito

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