NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 15- Tusker FC’s Kenyan Premier League struggles this season continued as they were held to a barren draw by Vihiga United at their Ruaraka Complex backyard on Sunday afternoon.
With only two wins this season, Tusker were under pressure to deliver a win and ensure they pump up the journey off the bottom half of the log. Vihiga though playing away were not coming in for anything short of a win as they are also perched in the bottom half of the log.
It was the visitors who had the earliest chance of the game, captain Bernard Ochieng powering a header across the face of goal in the 14th minute when he rushed in to meet a well delivered freekick from Patrick Okulo.
On the other end, Tusker’s first real chance of the game came in the22nd minute when Timothy Otieno picked up the ball inside the box but his shot on the turn under pressure from the Vihiga skipper Ochieng went over.
Vihiga had gotten a good hold of the game and were not afraid to express themselves, playing balls behind the Tusker defense in a bid to use their pace and break the backline.
In the 32nd minute, Tusker keeper Duncan Ochieng made a great save using his body to block a shot from Dennis Wafula who had picked the ball inside the box after Andrew Murunga had nodded down the ball for him from a deep cross.
Five minutes later Vincent Wonder came close with a freekick from the edge of the box which went inches over after curling beyond the wall.
Tusker should have ended the half at least one up with a good chance at the end when Robert Achema played a quick one-two with Amos Asembeka but his eventual shot was weak and an easy pick for Barnabas Tiema.
At the start of the second half Tusker head coach Sam Timbe changed his options upfront, Asembeka and Paul Odhiambo coming off for Mathew Odongo and Mike Khamati.
The home side managed to push Vihiga into their own half but were not lucky to his the target. On the hour mark, Hashim Ssempala came close with a shot from distance which was turned against the bar by Tiema.
On the other end, Duncan Ochieng pulled off another great save to deny skipper Ochieng who had taken a one-time volley at goal off an Okulo freekick.
Tusker had more chances with Achema and Ssempala’s shots from range well collected by Tiema.
Tusker were almost caught out five minutes to full time when Murunga broke the offside trap to meet Okullo’s cross from the left, but the former Tusker man volleyed over.