Clinical Talanta leave Wazito deep in relegation muck

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FKFPL Clinical Talanta leave Wazito deep in relegation muck

Festus Chuma 15:10 - 09.04.2023

Collins Odhiambo, who was one of Wazito standout performers in the first leg was kept quiet by the hosts at Ruaraka.

Financially ill Talanta registered just their sixth win of the 2022/2023 Football Kenya Federation Premier League season following a deserved 2-0 victory over fellow Wazito on Sunday afternoon.

The emphatic victory saw Talanta climb up to 13th spot on the league standings and gain the much needed confidence boost ahead of their next fixture with Sofapaka on April 16.

On the other hand, Wazito remained 17th on the standings and they are scheduled to lock horns with Nzoia Sugar on April  12.

It was a decent lively start opening that Wazito put forward and build-up play from the back quite well too and furthermore kept their defensive line in shape.

The visitors looked more threatening to get an opener on break attacks, with nippy combinations around the box and they struggled with the fine pass.

Talanta managed to get into the overall run of play in the 18th minute and had Ezekiel Owande brought a decent save off  Michael Jairo on the opposite goal.

Wazito pushed numbers forward at around the half-hour mark and a rapsing drive by Maxwell Odada from a promising area put goalkeeper James Omusinde to work.

The hosts then regained control of the match, and Ales Luganji  was presented with a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock, but he fired over the crossbar from close range.

In the 39th minute Heman Mwambegu gave them the lead with a simple finish after  Wazito defenders failed to clear their lines.  

Wazito had a chance to net an equalizer in the dying minutes of the first stanza when  Ibrahim Ochieng unleashed a low shot across the face of goal, but Maxwell Odada was a second late with Omusinde  rooted to the ground.

The score was 1-0 at the interval following a first half which was dominated by Wazito, who could not take their chances. 

Talanta continued to press Wazito in search of the second goal, forcing the visitors to sit back and absorb the pressure.

Barrack Odhiambo made it 2-0 in the 50th minute with a brilliant header after jumping above two Wazito defenders, after Agustine Kuta had all the word on the left side of the box to deliver a square cross.

Perhaps Wazito should have pulled one back  in the 70th minute as Abubakar Seneji was the recipient of a delightful pass by Denis Owino, but the  winger failed to get anything on the ball as it landed safely into the keeper’s hands.

Stephen Bwire  found some space on the edge of the Talanta box and he unleashed a low shot which narrowly missed the target as the visitors continued to waste their chances.

Bwire, who was guilty of missing chances on the afternoon then watched on in disbelief as his attempt was well-saved by Omusinde in the dying minutes of the game.

The match was slowed down within five minutes remaining on the clock, as the hosts enjoyed a two-goal cousin and were comfortable to secure victory in the end.

How they lined up:

FC Talanta: James Omusinde,Alvin Ochieng,Eric Shikono,Ian Omondi, Shela Mundela,Castro Ogendo,Alex Luganji,Agustine Kuta,Barrack Odhiambo,Herman Mwambegu,Michael Jairo

Wazito FC: Ezekiel Owande,Clinton Bulimo, Kelvin Wesonga,Denis Owino,Kevin Onyango,Ibrahim Ochieng,Robert Onyango,Stephen Bwire,Maxwell Odada,Denis Amandire,Collins Odhiambo