NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 27 – Premier League champions Tusker FC’s horrendous start to the season continued as they suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to newcomers FC Talanta, remaining bottom of the standings.
Francis Kahiro scored a brace in between Jackson Macharia’s equalizer as the league champions’ struggles in the new campaign continued.
Elsewhere in the early kick off at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani, record champions Gor Mahia made it three wins in three matches after a 2-0 victory over Kariobangi Sharks.
For Tusker, it was yet another run of a below par performance.
They found themselves trailing after 10 minutes when the backline failed to defend an Evans Maliachi freekick from the right and Kahiro stretched his foot to direct the ball home at the backpost.
It was the worst possible start for the brewers who were still reeling from last Friday’s CAF Champions League thrashing at the hands of Zamalek.
Robert Matano’s men put up a brave face and tried to battle their way back.
They came closest in the final two minutes of the half, midfielder Clyde Senaji bearing both opportunities. First, he rose unmarked inside the box to meet a John Njuguna cross from the right, but his angled header was just over.
A minute later, Tusker were awarded an indirect freekick after the Talanta keeper handled a backpass. It was started short and rolled to Senaji, but his curling effort was tipped over the bar by the shot stopper.
In the second half, Matano made changes, bringing off debutant Stewart Omondi, Njuguna and Rodgers Ouma, replacing them with Shami Kibwana, Boniface Muchiri and Kevin Okoth.
Tusker had moments of dominance as they pressed the ball into Talanta’s half.
They were rewarded in the 57th minute when Jackson Macharia kneed the ball home after striker Ibrahim Joshua shielded the ball away from the defense off Kibwana’s cross.
But the joy of the equalizer lived for only five minutes as Kahiro netted his second with a header unmarked inside the box when the Tusker backline was found flat once again off Enock Machaka’s cross from the right.
The Tusker side were guilty of ball watching when they raised their hands calling for a handball on Machaka, but the ref waved play on.
With pressure on their shoulders, Tusker turned back the tide and came close in the 68th minute when Muchiri teed up Macharia, but his curling effort went just over the bar.
Despite more pressure and addition of striking personnel, the brewers could not salvage a point as they remained bottom of the standings.