Last-minute horror show sees Tusker exit tourney
What you need to know:
- Tusker dramatically collapsed in the final 10 minutes of their exciting CAF Champions League preliminary round second leg encounter against AS Port-Louis of Mauritius at the New George V stadium in Cureripe to tumble out at the first hurdle on Sunday.
- The Kenyan champions were leading 1-0 and well on their way to winning the round only to concede two late goals and lose the match 2-1.
- AS Port-Louis thus won the round 3-2 on aggregate.
Tusker dramatically collapsed in the final 10 minutes of their exciting CAF Champions League preliminary round second leg encounter against AS Port-Louis of Mauritius at the New George V stadium in Cureripe to tumble out at the first hurdle on Sunday.
The Kenyan champions were leading 1-0 and well on their way to winning the round only to concede two late goals and lose the match 2-1.
AS Port-Louis thus won the round 3-2 on aggregate.
Forward Ephrem Guikhan was Tusker’s destroyer-in-chief.
He scored both goals to add on the other strike he netted in Nairobi last week in their 1-1 first leg draw.
His first of the afternoon was a simple tap in on 83 minutes after Bruno Ravina had beaten Shaffique Batambuze on the left and sent in an inviting cross that went past the advancing David Okello.
His second, six minute later, was from a free header after a corner, guiding the ball into the back of the net via the inside of Okello’s right post.
The Ivorian is now the tournament’s top scorer with three goals.
Initially, Tusker coach George “Best” Nsimbe’s charges seemed to be coasting to victory after Hashim Ssempala’s (inset) 21st minute thunderbolt had given them the lead at the near empty 5,000-capacity venue.
The brewers then wasted three clear cut chances in the second half to extend the league and secure the match, through Noah Wafula and Anthony Ndolo.
On two occasions, the former AFC Leopards forward blasted wide with only the goalkeeper to beat, albeit from a narrow angle.
The second chance in particular, after he was teed up by Wanga, left the brewers’ technical bench cursing their luck.
Ndolo’s effort was also cleared for a corner by a trailing defensive clearance.
Tusker were made to rue their mistakes against a Mauritius side that was given little chance against their battle-hardened opponents.
