By Fredrick Nadulli,

Defending champions Tusker pulled every trick from the bag to overcome AFC Leopards and retain the Top 8 knockout cup.

On a sunny afternoon at the Kinoru stadium in Meru,defender Lloyd Wahome fired the brewers into the lead,rising unattended on 11 minutes to head in from a perfect Kevin Kimani corner kick.

Bob Mugalia should have doubled the lead on 29 minutes but his effort a yard away from the goal line went horribly high and away.Towering defender Joseph Shikokoti pulled Leopards level on 35 minutes via a scrappy header off a poor defensive clearance by Khalid Aucho.

The introduction of striker Jesse Were for Mugalia on 50 minutes spurred the alemen,who subsequently went full throttle.AFC managed to soak the pressure before they eventually cracked thirteen minutes from time,Clifford Alwanga shooting at the near post when the cats failed to clear their lines.

It was sweet revenge for Francis Kimanzi as well,AFC having beaten his side in the league a couple of weeks back.