Robert Matano started his second stint at Tusker FC on a high with a 1-0 win over Wazito in a SportPesa Premier League match played on Wednesday at Camp Toyoyo, Nairobi.
The win sees the brewers return to winning ways and they also move up to 13th spot on the league standings, while Wazito remain 12th on the table.
Ugandan Robert Achema notched the winner on 12th minute with a powerful strike for the Ruaraka-based outfit who won their first game in five following his reappointment as the head coach at the side he led to the 2012 crown.
Matano, well known for his defensive tactics, was quick to re-align brewer’s defence deploying David Mwangi and Eugene Asike at the heart of his defense.
The visitors had a positive start to the game applying pressure on the Wazito defence in the opening stages of the goal as they looked to grab an early goal.
Achema gave the visitors a deserved lead inside the first fifteen minutes when he scored with a wonderful strike to make it 1-0 to Tusker.
The momentum was with the visitors and they managed to doubled their lead 25th minutes later with the Wazito defence caught watching but Marlon Tangauzi’s effort went wide.
Towards the 40th minute, Wazito kept Ducan Ochieng busy as they knocked on the door for an equaliser, but the former Harambee Stars keeper was solid as he punched away Emmanuel Tienan’s set piece.
Despite Wazito’ efforts to unlock Tusker defence, the fast-paced opening half ended 1-0 in favour of the visitors.
Both sides started the second stanza at a high tempo and after the loose ball fell into Khamati’s path, he could only manage to sky his effort from close range.
Tusker defender Marlon Tangauzi celebrating during a past match (photo/courtesy)
Both sides fired blanks after the hour mark as the pace slowed down, but the home side came close to the equalizer as Marlon Tangauzi cleared Onimbo’s set piece from the goal line in the 71st minute.
With 11 minutes to go, Tusker pushed for a second goal but Nyakha was alert to sweep away Katlego Mashego’s attempt which was heading into the open net.
Coach Franc Ouna’s men upped the ante in the last six minutes, yet Odhiambo was equal to the task to punch away Boniface Muchiri’s header from close range.
Tusker held on to their slender lead as the defeat leaves Wazito sitting on the log table with 14 points from 12 games – the result ended their three-match unbeaten run.
