Its a zoo dance in Kericho as Tusker stagger to triple dose

Zoo Kericho FC climbed off the relegation zone for the first time this season after handing Tusker FC a shock 3-1 at the Kericho Green Stadium.

Star-man Nicholas Kipkirui led the rout by bagging brace to add onto a Mike Madoya’s strike which lifted the hosts four places into 13th on the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) log as they took their points tally to 11.

Matthew Odongo pulled one back for the visitors in the dying minutes but it only served as a consolation with the chastening defeat leaving them 14th on the log, 14 points adrift the league front-runners Mathare United.

It is a wobbly run that is set to trigger the now too predictable crisis meeting at Ruaraka, Tusker’s headquarters.

In Saturday’s early kick-off  in Nairobi, Hassan Kiyoyo made a heroic cameo appearance netting a late winner as Kakamega Homeboyz defeated Kariobangi Sharks 2-1 at the Camp Toyoyo grounds.

Homeboyz had opened the scoring through Noah Wafula inside the half-hour but Paul Kamau replied for the hosts.

At the Mbaraki Sports Club in Mombasa, former Kariobangi Sharks hit-man Boniface Akenga came off the bench to score the winner as Bandari FC edged AFC Leopards 1-0 to end their three-match winless streak.

Elsewhere, at the Chemelil Sugar Complex in Awasi, Sofapaka FC rallied to rescue a point thanks to Stephen Waruru’s late strike which cancelled Abdul Hassan’s first half effort.

Bright start

At the Kericho Green Stadium, Tusker had enjoyed affine start with Odongo getting the first sight at goal when Michael Khamati slipped him through but the former Sharks player was flagged offside.

Kipkirui then fired the response but his first-time hit from Bernard Odhiambo’s delivery was an overhit, it flew safely beyond keeper Duncan Ochieng’s post.

The visitors then won a corner on the other end as Vincent Misikhu pushed Peter Nzuki’s effort round his post in a frantic opening 20 minutes.

Neat interplay between Odongo and Robert Achema saw the latter whip in a fine cross to find Amos Asembeka but the striker’s attempt on goal was easily picked by Misikhu.

Asembeka found himself through on goal moments later but was unable to get the better of Misikhu again and against the run of play, the hosts found the breakthrough.

Madoya, the reigning KPL Player of the Year, found himself unmarked in the box to roll the ball past Ochieng and five minutes later turned provider for Kipkirui to make it 2-0.

The same player then took the game beyond Tusker’s reach when he picked Danson Chetambe’s pass in his stride and poked it home for his second of the day.

Odongo’s persistent running paid off when he latched onto a loose ball in the final third to score Tusker’s consolation.

SUMMARISED RESULTS

Chemelil Sugar 1 – 1 Sofapaka FC

Kariobangi Sharks 1 – 2 Kakamega Homeboyz

Bandari FC 1- 0 AFC Leopards

Zoo Kericho FC 3 – 1 Tusker FC

Wazito FC 1 – 0 Mathare United