Leopards, Tusker share the spoils

The top-of-the-table clash between Tusker FC and AFC Leopards on Friday may have flattered to deceive but the match which ended in a barren draw set the tone for what will likely be a nervy season finale.

And on Saturday, hosts Karuturi Sports were made to work hard before seeing off Muhoroni Youth 1-0.

All talk before Friday’s match involving league champions Tusker and leaders AFC Leopards was how it would showcase the local game.

Going into the match, both teams boasted best records in the league with second-placed Tusker having the meanest defence and Leopards the most prolific attack.

And with just four points separating them, this close to the end of the season, the feeling was the sides would get at each other with hammers and tongs. Conceivably, this was a title decider, and as such matters go, the gravity of the situation took its toll on the match.

Tactical battle

It certainly was not a classic, free-flowing, attacking game of football but more of a tactical battle, the priority clear: do not lose the match. A loss for either side may not have been a deathblow but it certainly would have derailed the losers’ title ambitions.

Remember there was also the pressure of the chasing pack, Gor Mahia, level on points with Tusker before the match, Sofapaka and Thika United a point behind and Ulinzi Stars two points further back.

All the six title chasers will only be too aware that only eight points separate them and any slip at this stage will cost them the title. Tusker were the more cautious side and started with a five-man defence held together by Joseph Shikokoti and Joakins Atudo.

Leopards, given lots of room in their own half by the deep-lying Tusker, enjoyed the early possession.

Tusker’s yellow wall stifled any enterprise from a far from assured Leopards who resorted to punts upfield for strike partners Allan Wanga and Mike Baraza to chase.

The brewers were the more dangerous side moving forward. Nigerian Joseph Emeka came close twice, testing goalkeeper Patrick Matasi with a dipping header and almost shaving the top side of the up right with a curling effort.

At the other end, Baraza got a sniff at goal with a flash of brilliance, expertly skipping past two tackles in the box but the angle was tight and Tusker goalkeeper Bonface Oluoch covered well.

The men in yellow showed more adventure in the second half and will feel unlucky not to have grabbed all three points. Emeka almost caught out the erratic Matasi with an audacious attempt from out wide but the upright kept Leopards in the game.

Matasi again failed to hold onto a ball later on but the lurking Obadian Ndege was fractionally late.

AFC’s Jan Koops was the happier coach with the outcome.

“We wanted to win. We did not score but we had the fighting spirit which is good,” he said.

In Naivasha on Saturday, Karuturi Sports chalked up three vital points when they beat visiting Muhoroni Youth by a solitary goal in a balanced match. The win saw the flowermen rise to ninth in the league with 29 points from 24 matches.

“This is a crucial win for us. Our ultimate goal is to finish among the top eight to play in the KPL top eight tournament next year,” said Karuturi coach Michael Nam.