Timonah Wanyonyi in action in the past SPL.Photo/Raymond Makhaya
NAIROBI, March 5 – Tusker FC leap frogged Mathare United to move top of the SportPesa Premier League following their 2-1 win away to Muhoroni Youth on Saturday.
In the early kick-off, Mathare were held to a goalless draw by visitors Kakamega Homeboyz at Kasarani stadium while Chemelil Sugar and Nairobi City Stars fired blanks to settle for a barren stalemate in Awasi.
In Kisumu, skipper Dennis Odhiambo scored from the spot to salvage a point for Thika United to draw 1-1 against Western Stima while Moses Otieno netted the winner as Posta Rangers beat Sofapaka 1-0 in the final match of the day at Kasarani Stadium.
Ekaliani Ndolo and Collins Shivachi were on target to hand Tusker a slim lead at the summit on nine points, one behind Mathare while AFC leopards, who lock horns with arch rivals Gor Mahia in Sunday’s Mashemeji Derby come forth on seven points.
On form Wycliffe Ochomo continued with his brilliant goal scoring run to send Muhoroni ahead after two minutes of play when he curled in a free-kick for his fourth goal of the season to take an early lead in the top scorers chart.
The Brewers found their rhythm in the 20th minute with Humphrey Mieno commanding the midfield but the Muhoroni backline remained firm to deny Tusker forwards the break through.
The Paul Nkata side thought they had restored parity nine minutes later when Jackson Macharia fed Ndolo, who was flagged off side despite finding the back of the net.
Tusker mounted pressure five minutes to half time with Shivachi pulling a thunderous strike but Muhoroni keeper Faruk Shikalo stood tall to finger tip for a fruitless corner.
The visitors showed impressive determination to recover through Ndolo’s equaliser on the stroke of half-time when the former Sofapaka midfielder benefited from a fortunate deflection that freed him down the left before cutting in to pick the par post.
Muhoroni should have found themselves two up in the 71st minute but captain James Situma came to his side’s rescue when he headed away Abbas Akinyemi’s attempt.
However, the host could not contain the pressure five minutes later when Shivachi directed a header past Shikalo from Danson Kago’s corner to seal the win that saw Muhoroni pick their first loss of the season.
