KISUMU, Kenya, Mar 30 – Oliver Majak’s 11th minute header saw defending champions Kakamega Homeboyz remain hopeful of defending their FKF MozzartBet Cup title, after edging out Tusker FC by a solitary goal at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu.
In a repeat of last year’s final, Homeboyz replicated the same result they had against the Brewers, to book a place in the last eight where a date against KCB awaits.
The Bankers progressed to the quarter finals after edging out Bidco United 3-1 in the other round of 16 match played at the Police Sacco Stadium un Nairobi.
Tusker had a better start against Homeboyz and had the first forays at goal, David Odoyo’s strike on the volley flying straight to keeper James Ssetuba’s arms before Mike Oduor’s shot from range scaled the bar by a few centimetres.
However, Homeboyz picked the most important statistic of the game in the 11th minute when Majak rose above Tom Teka inside the six yard box to thump home a header from a cross on the right.
Tusker tried to find their way back into the game, with John Njuguna forcing keeper Ssetuba to a one handed save from a freekick before Shaphan Siwa had a shot inside the box deflected for a corner.
In the second half, Tusker made changes to their personnel, with Eric Otieno, Fabian Adikiny, Eric Zakayo and Lawrence Luvanda coming on for Eric Kapaito, Siwa, Njuguna and Oduor.With Otieno playing up top, his role was to pick up long balls as Tusker were desperate for a goal.
It worked on several occasions, but the brewers could not land the ball on target. They thought they had a goal five minutes to the end when Otieno fired a shot from inside the box after Sakari’s shot was deflected into his path, but the second assistant referee had the flag up for offside.
Late on, they had several chances with Collins Otieno striking wide while Adikiny’s indecision inside the box when Homeboyz failed to clear their lines cost the brewers a valuable equalizer.
