Tusker 4 - 2 AFC Leopards: Brewers maul 10-man Ingwe in six-goal thriller

Tusker FC players celebrate a goal against AFC Leopards during their Kenyan Premier League match at Kericho Green Stadium on April 2,2018. PHOTO | ONDARI OGEGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Wahome completed his brace 15 minutes to time with a close range finish after Adira punched Collins Shivachi’s free kick from 20-yards.
  • Leopards rallied on but their efforts bore no fruit.
  • The result sees Tusker move to ninth spot on nine points, as Leopards remain third on 16 points after eight rounds.

Eleven -time Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions Tusker edged out 10-man AFC Leopards 4-2 in a six-goal thriller played at a soggy but packed Kericho Green Stadium on Monday.

Timothy Otieno capitalised on a comical error from Leopards goalkeeper Gabriel Andika to score the opener in the sixth minute.

Andika’s clearance from Mike Kibwage's back pass was blocked by Otieno with ball rolling into the back of the net.

Tusker FC's Timothy Otieno (left) and AFC Leopards Robinson Kamura vie for the ball during their Kenyan Premier League match at Kericho Green Stadium on April 2, 2018. PHOTO | ONDARI OGEGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Tusker FC's Erick Ambunya (right) and AFC Leopards' Wyvonne Isuza fight for the ball during their Kenyan Premier League match at Kericho Green Stadium on April 2, 2018. PHOTO | ONDARI OGEGA |

Twenty seven minutes later, Andika was the culprit again, as he tackled the former Gor Mahia striker, Otieno inside the area to concede a penalty and also given his marching orders by the referee.

His dismissal forced Ingwe coach Dennis Kitambi to sacrifice Nigerian midfielder Henry Uche for custodian Jairus Adira, who was beaten by Otieno from the resultant penalty in the 32nd minute.

Leopards halved the deficit four minutes to the halftime break via Isaac Oduro's penalty, after Lloyd Wahome had fouled Marvin Omondi inside the area.

Tusker coach Sam Timbe withdrew Matthew Odongo for Peter Nzuki two minutes after the restart and Nzuki turned provider for the third goal at the hour mark.

The former Nakumatt man picked out Wahome with a beautiful cross, with the latter beating Adira with a header at the far post.

AFC Leopards striker Ezekiel Odera (left) leaves Tusker’s Justin Omary for dead during their Kenyan Premier League match at Kericho Green Stadium on April 2, 2018. PHOTO | VINCENT OPIYO |

Leopards’ fighting spirit was envisaged two minutes after the hour mark, when Ezekiel Odera floated in a cross that Whyvonne Isuza headed home to make it 3-2.

Wahome completed his brace 15 minutes to time with a close range finish after Adira punched Collins Shivachi’s free kick from 20-yards.

Leopards rallied on but their efforts bore no fruit.

The result sees Tusker move to 12th spot on nine points, as Leopards remain third on 16 points after eight rounds.