Determined Tusker break down stubborn Sofapaka

©Sofapaka

FKFPL Determined Tusker break down stubborn Sofapaka

Festus Chuma 17:15 - 09.04.2023

The Brewers put on an absolutely dominant display against the Batoto ba Mungu at Ruaraka Grounds on Sunday afternoon.

Defending champions Tusker edged out Sofapaka 2-0 in an Football Kenya Federation Premier League match at the Ruaraka Stadium on Sunday.

As a result, the Brewers and Batoto ba Mungu remained second, and 12th respectively on the league table.

The Brewers took the game to Sofapaka from the word go, and Tusker's first goal came in the eighth minute when Humphrey Mieno won the ball high up the field before Eric Otieno let fly from the right flank with an in-swinging effort to make it 1-0.

Sofapaka registered their first attempts at goal soon thereafter but were denied by good goalkeeping by Brian Bwire. 

After 25 minutes on the clock, the Batoto ba Mungu looked comfortable on the ball with the Tusker providing little attacking threats.

Alex Imbusia  managed to test  Tusker keeper Brian Bwire just after the half-hour mark and the Kenya  international denied the Sofapaka striker with ease.

It should have been 1-1 at half-time when the ball fell kindly for Roddy Manga in the Tusker box on the stroke of half-time, but somehow the striker missed the target.

Sofapaka were trailing 1-0 at half-time and David Ouma’s side had to find a way to level matters in the second-half.

Ouma pulled out Enmanuel Otieno and he introduced  Jacob Panom just the before the second-half began.

The Brewers defence continued to contain the Batoto ba Mungu, who attacked in numbers in search of the equalizing goal.

Simon Ambuko had a chance to level matters in the 66th minute, but his header lacked power and  Brian Bwire made a comfortable save.

Both goalkeepers had to come to the party on several ocassions, but Tusker nearly extended their lead when Staphan Siwa beat his marker for pace inside the box before firing against the woodwork with Simon Masaka well-beaten. 

Sofapaka didn't seem to have answers for the questions asked by Tusker, and Ouma  had to bring on Tyson Omondi in the final 15 minutes of the game. 

But before then, the encounter proved to be a very physical affair with both sets of players often receiving medical attention. 

This slowed down the pace of the game and it meant fewer goalscoring chances for both teams. 

And this was evident when Nshirimimana himself received a yellow card five minutes from time. 

The hosts then doubled their lead against the run of play in the 88th as Jackson Macharia fired past Masaka to make it 2-0 for Tusker.

In the end, the two goals  proved enough for Robert Matano’s men as they sealed their 13th league win of the campaign and up to 45points after 23 games.

How they lined up:

Tusker: Brian Bwire, Daniel Sakari,Joseph Odhiambo,Thomas Teka, Charles Momanyi,Humphrey Mieno,Michael Oudor, Rodgers Ouma,Eric Otieno,Staphan Siwa, John Njuguna

Sofapaka: Simon Masaka, Emmanuel Otieno, Evans Makari, David Nshirimimana, Stephen Okola, Sunday Ikhekhia, Stanley Omondi, Alex Imbusia, Royal Okal, Simon Ambuko, Roddy Manga