Allan Wanga returns to haunt Tusker in Homeboyz colours

Kakamega Homeboyz put up a brilliant display to stun former Champions Tusker FC 2-0 in a SportPesa Premier League match at a bumpy Ruaraka grounds on Saturday.

Former Tusker forward Allan Wanga, who led the Ruaraka outfit to the league and Cup double in 2016 before leaving at the end of last season, struck the second goal to add to Eston Esiye's first half strike to hand Homeboyz their first ever win over Tusker.

It was yet another day of misery for Tusker who have now lost their last three league matches.

Esiye, who was acquired by Homeboyz last year from Western Stima, gave the visitors the lead from 30 yards out after his thunderbolt from a free-kick escaped the attention of goalkeeper David Okello in an embarrassing fashion for the former Sofapaka custodian. The poor state of the pitch made it difficult for both teams to string passes, thereby forcing both set of players to go for aerial duels which only resulted into a dour opening 20 minutes.

Both teams had employed a 4-4-2 approach to the match, with Homeboyz bringing in James Situma, Hedmond Mauda, Collins Kisuya and Smith Ouko and Tusker starting with Marlone Tangauzi, Eugene Asike, Eric Ambunya a and captain Lloyd Wahome defence.

The Kakamega-based side presented a highly physical game, causing trouble to the otherwise out of sorts brewers who could not fashion a single shot on goal for the opening half.

Wanga had an early chance to give the visitors the lead after miscommunication between Asike and Lloyd Wahome allowed the veteran forward space but Ambunya made a timely tackle to avert danger.

Asike then brought down Moses Mudavadi on 28 minutes, prompting referee Duncan Oguso award a free kick to Homeboyz, which was beautifully executed by Esiye, before Okello's howler allowed the to tip the scales for the first time in the game.

Tusker were awarded a free-kick after Moses Chikati was penalised for a foul on Hashim Sempala, but Boniface Muchiri's attempt two minutes later missed the target narrowly.

Tusker coach Robert Matano made two substitutions at the start of the second half, resting the ineffective Peter Nzuki and Mathew Odongo for Jackson Macharia and Robert Achema respectively in a bid to turn around fortunes for his side.

This however had little impact, as the visitors continued to attack with confidence and controlled large parts of that half.

Wanga could have scored a second goal on 73 minutes after escaping Asike attention inside the area, but shot wide with only Okello to beat.

After threatening for a while, Wanga finally stabbed home the second four minutes to time, heading home from a pin-point Mauda cross - and the former brewer opted for a muted celebration.

"I don't know what the issue is here. We just didn't play as a team. There was no flow, no cohesion, nothing worked. We have to organise ourselves and get players who can do the job. We have good players but we need players who can help the team," said an angry Matano after the match.

And in the other top flight match of the day, Sony Sugar beat Chemelil Sugar 1-0 at their Chemelil Sports Complex home turf. Stephen Ouma was responsible for the sole goal for Sony which proved enough to guarantee them the much-needed three points.