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KCB 2-2 Tusker: Brewers fight back to share spoils with Bankers
Zedekiah Otieno's side took the lead in the first half only for Robert Matano to make critical changes that saw the teams draw
Tusker have managed to pick up a point from a 2-2 draw against KCB in an FKF Premier League encounter at Thika Stadium on Sunday.
Derrick Otanga's brace handed the Bankers a first-half lead only for the Brewers to launch a counter-attacking strategy that helped them score twice through Humphrey Mieno and Jackson Macharia in the second half to win a point against their closest rivals.
Boniface Muchiri was unable to break the deadlock in the fourth minute after breaking through from the left flank only to see his final feeble shot collected by Josep Okoth in KCB's goal.
The Bankers managed to open the scores in the 18th minute through Otanga as Michael Oduor played a key role in creating the valuable chance.
The opener was a deserved reward for the hosts as they were more dominant than the Premier League leaders.
The former Sony Sugar and Wazito FC striker added the second in the 24th minute as Tusker struggled to contain their ambitious opponents. The Brewers goalkeeper Michael Wanjala made a mistake that allowed Otanga to move swiftly and fire home.
After going down twice and struggling, especially in the midfield, Robert Matano made a change two minutes after the half-hour mark as Faraj Ominde was replaced by Mieno.
KCB would have made it 3-0 in the 43rd minute but Reagan Otieno was unable to find the back of the net when he had been spotted in a vantaged position by Otanga.
Tusker came close to denying KCB a clean sheet in the 45th-minute when Sammy Meja worked through the left flank and set up his younger brother through on goal, only for the youngster to head wide from a promising position.
Another chance for the visitors to get a goal came in the 59th minute when Muchiri, Mieno, and Meja led a good build-up only for the latter to squander the chance as he shot wide from close range.
The Brewers' calls for a penalty were dismissed in the 62nd minute when Nahashon Alembi looked to have handled the ball in his area as he attempted to make a clearance.
Matano made more changes in the 68th minute as he introduced Erick Zakayo, Chris Ochieng, and Macharia for Brian Marita, Meja, and Kepha Okoth.
The changes re-energised Tusker, who scored their first goal in the 71st minute when Okoth fumbled the ball and allowed Mieno to collect and tap home.
Mieno played a key role in getting the second after his long-range cross landed on Macharia's path and the midfielder controlled it before tapping home rather easily in the 80th minute.
The draw means Tusker will remain at the top and KCB will keep second place on the log.
KCB XI: Joseph Okoth, Baraka Badi, Dennis Odhiambo, Rama Mwendwa, Nahashon Alembi, Brian Ndenga, Michael Oduor, Vincent Wasambo, Derrick Otanga, David Simiyu, Reagan Otieno.
Subs: Daniel Oduor, Simon Munala, Victor Ochami, Samuel Mwangi, Bethuel Achola, Brian Wepo, Victor Omondi, Martin Mbugua, David Ambulu, Harun Thomas, Curtis Wekesa.
Tusker XI: Michael Wanjala, Kevin Monyi, Sammy Meja, Rodgers Aloro, Eugene Asike, Hashim Sempala, Brian Marita, Faraj Odeny, Henry Meja, Kelvin Okoth, Boniface Muchiri.
Subs: Robert Mboya, Jimmy Mbugua, Erick Ambunya, Humphrey Mieno, Jackson Macharia, Chrispinus Onyango, Chris Ochieng, George Odhiambo, Zakayo Erick.
