Brewers open four points gap in the league with laboured win over champions Gor
By Barry Silah, July 9, 2021Tusker yesterday opened a four point gap in the FKF-Premier League following a 2-1 win over defending Champions Gor Mahia at Ruaraka Stadium yesterday to move to 50 points and ease some pressure from second placed KCB.
Second half goals from Boniface Muchiri and Eugene Asike cancelled out Tito Okello’s first half effort to put a smile on the Brewers’ fraternity.
Tusker now have a healthy lead at the top while K’Ogalo are rooted at fourth place on 39 points, 11 adrift of the leaders, following their fourth match without a win.
“This was one of those matches that we needed to win to show that we did not win the CAF Champions League ticket by luck, but we deserved it.
I am happy because we showed character against a quality side in a very tough match.
We had to push hard in the second half to over turn the results and now we are immediately shifting our focus on our next assignment which will be against KCB this Sunday,” said an elated Tusker coach Robert Matano.
His counterpart Carlos Manuel Vaz Pinto was livid with the officiating, arguing that the Brewers two goals should not have stood.
The first half was a busy one on both ends as the match picked momentum quickly just a few minutes from the first whistel.
Tusker wingers Brian Marita and Boniface Muchiri were a handful for K’Ogalo’s wing-backs, Geoffrey Ochien’g and Philemon Otieno who had to be fully alert all through.
However, Gor Mahia got their footing in the 10th minute when Samuel Onyango and Jules Ulimwengu exchanged passes to expose Eugene Asike and Christopher Oruchum in the Tusker backline.
Onyango who had been nursing an injury for the better part of the season, remained a constant threat when on the ball and constantly tested opposing goalkeeper Michael Wanjala.
In the 14th minute a surging Philemon Otieno was tripped by Tusker’s Sammy Miseh and Kenneth Muguna stepped up for a lovely free-kick that found Tito Okello’s outstretched foot which sent the ball into the net for a deserved opener.
In the second half, it was Tusker who had more of the ball as the match turned physical with tensions rising.
The brewers started dictating play with direct balls as Muchiri and Marita were always ready to pounce.
It did not take long before Tusker got their equalizer in the 57th minute through a lovely free kick by Boniface Muchiri following a foul by Philemon on the left flank.
Meanwhile in another midweek clash, Nzoia Sugar FC beat visitors Bidco United 1-0 thanks to a Hillary Simiyu strike in the 67th minute of play.
The sugar millers are currently placed 14th on the table with 20 points while Bidco are 12th on the log.