Owusu penalty fires Tusker FC to the top

Ghanian Stephen Owusu came from the bench to fire in the penalty that handed Tusker FC a 1-0 win over hosts Kakamega Homeboyz in a closely contested SportPesa Premier League (SPL) encounter in Mumias on Friday afternoon.

Homeboyz custodian Michael Wanyika impeded the advancing Humphrey Mieno in the box and the referee pointed to the spot, where Owusu -who came on in the 62nd minute for Michael Khamati- made no mistake with a left foot shot with ten minutes to full time for the Brewers’ first victory in three.

The result saw Tusker leapfrog Mathare United to the summit of the SPL on 24 points, two above the Slum Boys who can reclaim the lead if they beat Western Stima on Sunday.

Augustine Etemesi who sat on the bench the entire afternoon was shown red for indecency at the touchline in the dying embers of the match as his side chased in vain for an equaliser to add to Homeboyz woes.

The home team backed protested referee’s decision to deny the penalty they were baying for in the extra time, after Tusker’s defender Martin Kiiza appeared to handle the ball in the box sparking the disturbances that saw the veteran sent off.

There was no notable goal-mouth action in the first half until Khamati had the ball in the back of the net but the effort did not stand after he used his hands to bring it under control before firing in.

Homeboyz’s Robert Ouma was lucky to escape a red card in the after recklessly cluttering Khamati while Jackson Macharia who had been booked earlier also survived a second booking to stay on.

Ali Bai was then denied in the box by veteran stopper Osborne Monday after a fine cross from Mike Khaduli to allow his keeper David Okello to collect the ball in the host’s best chance of the opening period.

Homeboyz who remained ninth on 16 after their sixth loss of the season spurned the first opportunity of the second half when in the 52nd, Athman Buki curled a cross from the right into the box but Jeremiah Wanjala but headed wide off target with only Okello to beat.

Brewers’s coach Paul Nkata brought on Timona Wanyonyi for Noah Wafula and Owusu in place of Khamati and the changes revitalized his team just past the hour mark.

Four minutes later, Eugine Wasike almost broke the deadlock when he met Shafiq Batambuze’s corner with a powerful header that was only inches over the bar with Wanyika well beaten.

Not even the late substitution of Andrew Murunga who rested Moses Mudavadi would salvage Mike Muiruri’s fortunes as Tusker held on to win 1-0 and shoot to the top of the log on 24 points.