Tusker falter at Ushuru as Stima dim City Stars

The Kenyan Premier league (KPL) title race looks set for a nervous ending as Tusker FC were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Ushuru FC in round 24 of the KPL played at the Nyayo Stadium on Sunday, 11.

In an earier match played at the same venue, Western Stima broke into the top four for the first time this season after sinking struggling Nairobi City Stars 1-0.

Debutant Ebrima Sanneh won and converted a penalty in the 18th minute to open the scoring for Ushuru before Allan Wanga levelled matters before the break.

It was a frantic start to the match with neither side able to string their passes together, both resorting to desperate clearances of the ball. As the match started to settle, Tusker looked the more likely to get the opener with Danson Kago and Allan Wanga especially looking sharp for the visitors.

However, it was Ushuru that would get the early breakthrough as Lloyd Wahome brought down Sanneh inside the box. The Gambian forward stepped up and calmly slotted it past David Okello, sending the custodian the wrong way.

The Brewers started pressing higher in search for the equalizer with the hosts looking comfortable to stick behind the ball and protecting their early lead.

Wanga pulled his side back in it with a glancing header after he was flicked through by Clifford Alwanga.

Ushuru were the last to taste the first half action, threatening to regain their lead four minutes before the break but Liberian striker Roosevelt Blatty headed wide with Okello off his line.

There were limited chances in the second half with Collins Shivachi, Heritier Luvualu and Wanga all coming close.

-Western Stima into top four-

Wesley Kemboi was the hero of the match, netting the lone goal in the 19th minute, dimming further chances of the Richard Tamale coached side to survive in the top tier, with only six matches to go.

The Power men had commanded the proceedings from the start, the first promising chance falling to Kenneth Muguna whose free kick was tipped out by custodian Ronny Kagunzi for a corner.

Fredrick Nyarombo could not shoot on target with only Kagunzi to beat having been picked through by Muguna in tenth, as Henry Omino’s charges continued a frantic search for an early goal.

Their efforts were rewarded nine minutes later when a hardworking Kemboi dodged past John Amboko in the box after being set up by Nyarombo, hiding the ball to the right corner past a diving Kagunzi.

With the scoreboard reading 1-0 to the visitor’s advantage, City Stars responded with a Manasse Orao testing Stima’s Gabriel Andika after a nice exchange between him and Jimmy Bageya.

In the 30th, Robert Ndung’u lost a golden opportunity to restore parity after Andika dropped the ball just before him in the box following Franklyn Osama’s cross, the former reacting sluggishly allowing the keeper to recover.

The under pressure Andika delayed with the ball on his hands without action for over six seconds, gifting the hosts an indirect free kick which Joseph Sakwa blast wide.

After the restart, Kemboi and Nyarombo were on fire forcing keeping Kagunzi busy in the early spell of the second half.

But it was Kennedy Otieno whose scare almost materialized for the second in the 55th, who stole the ball from City Stars defenders only, only to send it straight to the goalkeeper despite being just steps from the goal.

With no hope of recovering in the dying minutes, the Kawangware-based side coach Tamale was shown a red card for harsh words to the officials on the touchline.

In other results, Ulinzi Stars beat Sofapaka FC 3-1, Posta Rangers won 1-0 against Thika United while Sony Sugar triumphed 2-1 over Mathare United.

-Reporting by Jacob Icia and Matthews Mutai