NAIROBI, July 21- Kenya Premier League champions Tusker will face Rayon Sport from Rwanda in the East and Central (CECAFA) Club Cup championship quarterfinals on Wednesday.
The brewers made it to the last eight after thrashing Benedir of Somali 5-0 at the New National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, on Sunday.
Having lost 3-1 to Burundi side Vital’O, Tusker went into the match needing a win, to ensure progress to the knockout stages and they responded with one of their better displays of this season.
Leftback John Njoroge opening the scoresheet in the 14th minute before towering defender Joseph Shikokoti headed home the second in the 22nd minute to give the victors a halftime lead.
Jeff Oyando, Kenneth Wendo and Osborne Monday all scored in a three goal blitz in the last ten minutes.
In group A’ other crucial tie, Simba beat Burundi’s Vital O 1-0 although both sides had already confirmed their places in the quarters following Benadir’s huge defeat.
Simba dominated the match with their strikers Mussa Hassan ‘Mgosi’, Adam Kingwade and Ramadhan Chombo threatening in the early stages.
They got the lone goal in the 41st minute when Kelvin Yondan converted a cross by Mgosi.
Nigerian Emeh Izechukwu was introduced late for Simba and should have ,ade the game safe in the dying minutes but was foiled by a spectacular save by Vital’O goalkeeper Mubirigi Pappy.
Speaking after their match, Coach Jamhuri Kihwelu of Simba said he was happy with the win as it gave him the confidence with which to face APR.
“We went into the match seeking a win and we got it. We never bothered about who our next opponents would be and that is our position even as at now,” he said.
His Vital’O counterpart Younde Kagabo said his players were relaxed especially after knowing that they were in the quarters after the Benadir defeat.
The quarter finals of the regional tournament start on Tuesday with last year’s losing finalists Uganda Revenue Authority taking on Miembeni from Zanzibar before Simba take on defending champions APR from Rwanda.
Wednesday’s other quarterfinal will see Yanga play Vital’O.
Quarter finals pairings:
Tue: 22-7-2008: Simba v APR, URA v Miembeni.
Wed. 23-7-2008: Yanga v Vital’O, Tusker v Rayon
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