M. KisengeTop dogs Tusker share spoils with resolute Nzoia Sugar
Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 14.01.23. | 17:10
Tusker finished with ten men after Tom Teka received marching orders.
9What would have been an entertaining and high scoring Football Kenya Federation Premier League clash pitting Tusker and Nzoia Sugar has ended in a 0-0 draw at Ruaraka grounds.
The game brought the two leading teams in the competition but shyness in front of the goal by either sides was rife and thus, the points were shared.
Nzoia Sugar head coach Salim Babu feels that his side would have escaped with maximum points had they taken their chances.
"We played well but unfortunately we were not sharp enough in the final third. The playing surface also worked against our style of play," he said.
His Tusker counterpart Robert Matano could not hide his frustration with the dropped points and the decision by the referee to send his defender, Tom Teka off.
Nzoia would have broken for the half time breather with at least three goals written against their name as the visitors created clear cut chances that went begging.
Yasin Sije and Joseph Mwangi were guilty of wasting chances that came their way in the early minutes of the game as Nzoia sought to take control of the proceedings and settle the contest early.
Tusker goalkeeper Patrick Matasi pulled a point blank save to deny the unmarked Mwangi in the 21st minute from close range after the defence failed to track the attacker who ran behind their shoulders.
The early scare from Nzoia saw Tusker boss Matano instruct the duo of David Odoyo and John Njuguna to proceed for a warm up in a bid challenge those on pitch to step up.
While Nzoia were causing havoc on one end, Tusker winger Erick Zakayo was a thorn in the flesh of the visitor's defense as his trickery and dribbling skills caused all sort of problems especially the right back.
.jpg)
Zakayo was a rich source of supply to the forwards who were also at fault in as far as wasting chances, notably from crosses and set pieces is concerned.
The half time breather didn't take momentum out of the visitors as they continued from where they had left in the first half, asking questions in the Tusker area in an attempt to break the deadlock.
Tusker were reduced to ten men in the 59th minute after Teka who was making his debut was shown a second yellow card for a deliberate handball.
Teka who was partnering Kalos Kirenge at the heart of the defence had been booked in the first half for a foul on Sije.
Nzoia took advantage of the numerical advantage to make more inroads to the Tusker area but the host committed more numbers to help contain the pressure.
Nearly all of Tusker's outfield players were in their half in the final ten minutes of the game as Nzoia threw everything to the territory looking to grab the three points on offer.
However, the clustered legs made it impossible for the ambitious sugarmen who had to content with a point.
Tusker
Patrick Matasi, Kevin Monyi, Boniface Onyango, Tom Teka, Kalos Kirenge, Humphrey Mieno, Erick Zakayo (John Njuguna 73), Shaphan Siwa (David Odoyo 46), Ibrahim Joshua (David Majak 73)Jackson Macharia (John Njuguna 82), Shami Kibwana (Deogratious Ojok 73)
Unused substitutes
Brian Bwire, Jimmy Mbugua, Daniel Sakari, Charles Momanyi,
Nzoia Sugar
Humphrey Katasi, Vincent Mahiga, Salim Odeka, Ian Karani, Mwale Moses, Kevin Juma, Boniface Munyendo, Hassan Beja, Joseph Mwangi( Alfred Emoni82) Yasin Sije, Stephen Otieno (Felicien Okanda 65)
Unused substitutes
Benson Mangala, Kevin Maliachi, Randy Bakari, Thomas Harun, Elisha Wekesa, Mohamed Barisa
