Kapaito hits hat trick as potent Tusker inebriate hapless KCB

Photo credit || Tusker

Kapaito hits hat trick as potent Tusker inebriate hapless KCB

Mark Kinyanjui 18:10 - 07.01.2024

Kapaito's hat-trick helped inspire Tusker to a 5-0 win over KCB to continue their season revival.

Erick Kapaito was on fire as 12-time FKFPL champions Tusker thwacked KCB 5-0 to surge fifth on the table on the back of  recent revival from early-season slump.

Tusker started brightly when left back-cum winger Levin Odhiambo passed the ball to Kapaito in the 3rd minute before the diminutive striker forced KCB captain Gabriel Andika into an excellent save.

Tusker continued piling on the pressure and in the 5th minute, Kapaito scored his third of the season  in the 5th minute with a ferocious shot that hit the crossbar and then landed behind the line, sending the Alemen’s faithful into delirium.

Moments later, Andika needed medical attention after colliding with Kapaito after a cross by Lawrence Luvanda caused confusion in the box.

In the 13th minute, Tusker, who looked intent to shoot from distance, forced Andika to make a save again when Luvanda Lawrence attempted a shot on target in the 13th minute, and in the 16th minute, Fabian Adikinyi also forced him into another.

KCB got their first chance in the 20th minute when Derrick Otieno attempted a shot inside the box, forcing Brian Bwire into a good save.

James Mazembe would then be the next Bankers player to test Bwire’s resolve in the 24th minute when he drove with the ball inside the box before the former Sharks keeper did well to sweep the ball safely into his palms.

KCB did get another chance in the 32nd minute when Steven Etyang got on the end of a corner kick swang in by Mazembe before his near flicked header got Bwire into parrying the ball again yet again.

The provider for Tusker’s first then turned scorer for the second in the 36th minute. Odhiambo sent the crowd into delirium again when he unleashed a ferocious left footed shot into the back of the net that Andika could do very little to prevent from going in, to give them a comfortable 2-0 lead into the break.

Tusker made it three in the 50th minute when Kapaito acrobatically struck the ball into the back of the net, which looked like the goal that set the game to match.

KCB coach Bernard Mwalala was forced to bring on some changes , bringing on Kennedy Owino and Erikson Mulu for Etyang and Mazembe to help fellow substitute striker Francis Kahiro make a difference.

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In the 80th minute when substitute keeper Brian Olang’o, who had stepped in to replace Andika at half time, conceded a penalty which gave Kapaito the chance to complete his hat-trick, which he nonchalantly did.

Tusker hit the nail in the coffin in the  92nd minute through substitute John Njuguna, who slotted the ball home to make it five and complete the biggest win of the season.

In the end, the game would end 5-0 in favor of the visitors, who will now be full of confidence ahead of their next game.

KCB have now dropped to sixth place on 27 points.