NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 24 – Nairobi City Stars and Wazito FC scored late equalizers in a day of draws in the FKF Premier League as all three ties on Monday evening ended with spoils shared.
At the Ruaraka Complex, Rodgers Okumu scored with three minutes left to cancel out Gaetan Masha’s goal as City Stars played to a 1-1 draw with leaders Kakamega Homeboyz.
At the Kasarani Annex, Michael Owino scored in the third minute of added time as Wazito played out to a 1-1 draw with Bandari as Tusker FC was held to a 0-0 draw by Vihiga Bullets in Kakamega.
Elsewhere at the Ruaraka Complex, City Stars needed a Ridgers Okumu goal in the 87th minute to cancel out new signing Gaetan Masha’s goal early in the second half as the two sides played to a draw once again.
The top two sides in the standings, with coaches that worked together last season at Homeboyz, drew for the second consecutive time after playing to a 4-4 stalemate during the first leg in Kakamega last week.
Meanwhile in Kakamega, defending champions Tusker FC were looking to make it back to back victories over Bullets but the home side were more than determined to nick all three points at home.
Keeper Patrick Matasi was kept busy for most of the opening exchanges as he made several crucial saves to keep the score at 0-0.
Matasi had to quickly adjust his body to block a snap shot from Martin Okumu at the edge of the box early on, after it took an awkward bounce on the ground and changed direction swiftly.
Tusker FC keeper Patrick Matasi claims an aerial ball during their match against Vihiga Bullets. PHOTO/Timothy Olobulu
Five minutes later, Matasi who was donning the captain’s armband in the absence of injured skipper Eugene Asike made another save, this time collecting a well curled effort from Ibrahim Kajuba.
Vihiga were piling the pressure and dumping long balls into the Tusker box. Charles Momanyi, starting in place of Asike and Christopher Oruchum had the tasks of cutting out the long ball supply.
The brewers got their first opportunity after 27 minutes when Apollo Otieno picked up a lose ball from distance before firing on target. The keeper made a full stretched save, but the Tusker forwards couldn’t react quick enough with the defense clearing.
In the 34th minute, Jimmy went for the spectacular when a long throw from Sakari was deflected into his path. However, his shot on the half volley from distance went wide.
A minute to the break, Matasi was called into action again, this time making a decent flying catch to pick out Michael Isabwa’s header from a freekick.
In the second half, Vihiga started well with Matasi making another fine save, tipping over Okumu’s shot on the volley for a corner.
In a bid to arrest the pressure from Vihiga and his side struggling to create much, Coach Robert Matano made three changes, Rodgers Ouma, Deogratious Ojok and John Njuguna coming off for Humphrey Mieno, Stewart Omondi and Ibrahim Joshua.
Tusker were now taking the game to Vihiga, and were becoming dangerous. The Vihiga keeper had to stretch out to push away a Shaphan Oyugi header before Joshua came close to his sixth of the season with a shot that hit the side netting.
The Tanzanian also had another chance, this time with a curling effort from the edge of the area but the shot flew straight to the keeper.
Matano made more changes, Lawrence Luvanda and Jackson Macharia coming on for Shaphan and Eric Zakayo for a full offensive push.
With six minutes left, Oruchum came agonizingly close but couldn’t get to the ball in time at the backpost after the keeper missed the ball coming out for Sakari’s long throw.
Three minutes later, Luvanda who had come on for Zakayo came inches close when his volley inside the box was deflected onto the crossbar.
