NAIROBI, Kenya, February 27 – A brace from striker Dennis Mukaisi helped Tusker open their 2011 Kenya Premier League (KPL) campaign to a perfect start with a 2-0 win over AFC Leopards at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.
Mukaisi grabbed his first goal of the season in the 63rd minute when he ran onto a quickly taken free kick, beating opposing defender Martin Imbalabala in the process and chipping over the onrushing ‘Ingwe’ keeper Barnabas Tiema for a 1-0 lead.
The former Leopards marksman put the game beyond doubt with quarter of an hour remaining with a brilliant strike from an acute after collecting a pass on the near touchline, leaving the shambolic Leopards defence for dead to bury his wicked shot in the corner of the net.
Robert Bollen’s side had put Tusker on the back foot with Demonde Selenga and new man Laurent Tiumba playing a starring role.
Mukaisi had several chances in the first half and almost put the brewers ahead in the shadow of halftime by chipping Tiema who came off his line but Imbalabala showed great pace to chase the ball and clear it off his goal line.
Most of the second half wore on with both sides still trying to break the deadlock before Mukaisi stole the show with his memorable goals.
In the earlier match, Sofapaka reaffirmed their title credentials by beating Mathare United 2-1 at the same venue.
John Njoroge showed why Sofapaka signed him by grabbing heading in the opening goal five minutes in to the match following a rebound of Mathare defender Martin Musalia.
Humphrey Mieno took advantage of confusion in the Mathare defence to double Sofapaka’s lead following a well worked moved down the near flank.
John Baraza weaved his way past the Mathare defence to pass to Francis Ouma whoe shot ricochet off Musalia again onto the feet of Mieno who only had to tap to make the score 2-0.
Salim Ali’s side responded in devastating fashion through through Kevin Kimani in the 37th minute.
Kimani latched onto a long ball on the edge of the Sofapaka penalty box and with one touch beat Zachary Onyango to make the score 2-1.
The match wore on with both teams making incisive runs through each others defence but Sofapaka held on for the narrow in.
Follow the author on http://twitter.com/wekesa
