Tusker thump Ulinzi on decisive day to clinch Champions League spot
For the first time in four years, Kenya will have a new representative at the Confederations of African Football (CAF) Champions League following Tusker’s 4-1 drubbing of hosts Ulinzi Stars yesterday at Nakuru ASK Ground to lead the standings by 47 points by the June 30 set date and in the process book a ticket to the continental showpiece.
Their fate was in their hand, going into yesterday’s decisive match and they did not disappoint.
At the other end in the capital, KCB who were breathing on the neck of Tusker and hopped Ulinzi could do them favours by stunning the league leaders, won 2-1 against Nzoia Sugar FC but the victory was not enough for the Zedekiah Otieno-coached side who missed the CAF slot byb a single point.
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Tusker’s goals came through Brian Marita, Christopher Ochieng, Luke Namanda and Kevin Okoth.
After trailing the 2010 champions early in the match, to go to half time tied 1-1.
By then, it looked like KCB were poised to clinch the continental ticket as they were leading the Sugar Millers 2-1 at the breather, but the Brewers engaged a different gear in the second half, to overwhelm their opponents.
Earlier matches
In the earlier matches, Wazito winger Musa Masika got his first goal of the season as Wazito downed Nairobi City Stars 1-0 at Ruaraka Grounds to move to eighth position on the log with 30 points from 21 matches.
The stunner from the 21 year old was the difference in a game of missed opportunities by both sides.
The result means Wazito breaks the five match winning run of ‘Simba wa Nairobi’ who are still fifth on the log with 32 points from 22 matches.
In another earlier encounter at Nakuru ASK Show, Sofapaka beat Western Stima 1-0 as Ken Odhiambo side now move to joint 10th spot with 27 points in the bag.
Stima who are still in relegation danger at 16th place stunned Gor Mahia at the weekend 2-1 but could not replicate the result against a resolute ‘Batoto ba Mungu’ side who have had a poor season by their standards so far.
Meanwhile at the Thika Stadium in a lunch-time kickoff, Kakamega Homeboyz forced a 1-1 draw against hosts Bidco United.
Goals on each side by Allan Wanga and Peter Nzuki on either side were enough for the shared spoils.
The two teams are now separated by a single point after 21 rounds with Homeboyz up to 10th on the log with 28 points while Bidco are just one spot below with 27 points.
