Dejected Matano adamant Tusker were denied penalty in loss to Gor Mahia

FKFPL Dejected Matano adamant Tusker were denied penalty in loss to Gor Mahia

Mark Kinyanjui 14:00 - 21.01.2024

Matano insists Tusker were denied a penalty during their 1-0 loss to Gor Mahia on Saturday.

Tusker head coach Robert Matano insists his side were denied a penalty during their1-0 loss to Gor Mahia at the Machakos Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Alemen lost 1-0 courtesy of a well-taken freekick goal by Austin Odhiambo in the first half to give Gor all the three points and safely put them 12 points above the Ruaraka-based side, whose eight-match unbeaten run came to an end yesterday.

There was a moment of controversy in the 84th minute when Gor defender Kennedy ‘Vidic’ Onyango appeared to handle the ball while lying on the ground but the referee did not judge it to be an offence.

Television displays appear to show that the referee’s decision was justified as it shows it was a ball to hand incident and not intentional.

However, Matano, who looked dejected and disappointed after the match, insisted that it was a penalty which denied him a chance to prevent losing to the reigning league champions.

“That was a penalty but what can I do even if I complain?” Matano rhetorically asked.

“It was a clear penalty but the referee decided otherwise.”

Gor head coach Johnathan McKinstry did not see anything wrong with the situation, completely agreeing with the referee’s decision not to give a penalty away.

“The ball hit his hand and he was down bracing his hands against the grass,” McKinstry insisted.

“That is not a penalty and the rules are clear on this. It cannot be a penalty.”

Matano nonetheless did take positives out of the match and believes his charges are still in the race for the title.

“It was not a bad game. We started slowly but caught up later. We did not convert our chances but we played well in the second half.

“We are fighting hard and not out of the title race.”

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