Mayhem as Tusker sink Gor to go clear at the top

Chaos erupted at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium as title-chasing Tusker FC moved to the top of the SportPesa Premier League with a 1-0 victory over champions Gor Mahia on Saturday as former Brazilian international, Ze Maria lost his first game since taking charge of the titleholders.

Assistant Referee George Mwangi sparked the melee that led to a 12 minute stoppage when he awarded the Brewers a 70th minute penalty that was converted by Humphrey Mieno for the winner.

K’Ogalo fans were incensed at the controversial award when Gor defenders Harun Shakava and Abouba Sibomana sandwiched Collins Shivachi in the box and it was not clear whether the assistant had signalled for handball or an infringement on the Tusker attacker in the box in giving the penalty.

Mieno obliged and fired the ball to the roof of keeper Boniface Odhiambo’s net and the Green Army pelted the pitch with stones to express umbrage causing the stoppage as Gor’s skipper, Musa Mohammed appealed to the irate supporters to let the game to continue.

It was K’Ogalo who threatened first in the sixth minute, when Ronald Omino met George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo’s cross with a powerful header, forcing Tusker’s custodian David Okello to punch it out for a corner.

Ghanaian Stephen Owusu soon responded with a promising run into the box, beating Shakava to pull the trigger but his shot went wide.

Godfrey Walusimbi should have given Gor the lead in the 26th after lashing onto Francis Kahata’s chip from the left only but his shot hit Eugine Asike and his defensive partner, Martin Kizza blasted the ball out of danger.

In the 40th, Asike floated a free- kick into the box forcing Gor forward Enoch Agwanda to clear with a diving header to salvage the defending champions.

Owusu had a last minute chance of the first half to take the Brewers into the lead just before the break when a well looped ball found him in the area, but could not beat an alert Oluoch.

Just after restart, Kahata threatened after combining well with Omino but his effort was thwarted by Tusker skipper James Situma before Walusimbi sent in another fine cross from the left to Odhiambo who couldn’t beat Okello to the ball.

Ze Maria’s boys appeared to have gained some momentum they were missing in the first half, Agwanda and Odhiambo troubling Okello with more attacks as Karim Nizigiyamana and Walusimbi continued to pepper the ball into the Brewers box from the flanks.

Tusker boss, Paul Nkata then rested Owusu for Michael Khamati and Noah Wafula for Clifford Alwanga as he sought to add impetus into his team’s attack.

Ze Maria responded to those substitutions by bringing on Innocent Wafula for Omino, as goal hunt intensified on both ends.

That was followed by the debatable penalty and after calm was restored Ze Maria brought on record signing Jacques Tuyisenge for Agwanda.

On the pitch, the tension kept up with both sets of players exchanging unpleasantries and engaging in hard tackles.

Nzigiyamana was lucky to avoid a booking after openly kicking Tusker’s Shafiq Batambuze who was lying on the turf.

At the end of the 90, a whopping 15 minutes were added on and Jacob Kelli was introduced for Odhiambo in Ze Maria’s last effort to redeem at least a point for the 15-times champions.

Tusker’s bench was in trouble during the last 10 minutes of the added time with stones raining on their dug out but Nkana’s team heald on to advance to the summit on 20 points.

After the match, an angry fans rushed on to the pitch and attacked the referee before he was crowded out by Tusker players.

Astonishingly, some Gor stewards were heard telling other stewards to leave the hooligan alone as he was being forcefully removed from the pitch.

More Gor fans were baying for the referee’s blood at the entrance to the dressing room as mayhem continued despite the presence of police officers who were shielding him from trouble.

One of them pounced onto him with a punch, inviting the police to rain on him with a beating.

Sony first win

Elsewhere, returning boss; Salim Babu lead Sony Sugar to their first win of the season with title-chasing Bandari FC and Ulinzi Stars being forced to shared spoils while Muhoroni and Western Stima played out to the only barren stalemate of the day in the SPL.

Justin Monda’s lone goal was enough for Sony to sink Chemelil 1-0 as Babu made a winning return to the sugar millers after replacing Leonard Odipo who resigned midweek.

The 2006 league champions stopped a torrid run of form of five losses and three draws as Chemelil conceded a second straight loss.

Posta Rangers who handed Ulinzi a first defeat of the season earned a valuable point away in Mombasa despite losing the lead in a 1-1 draw against Bandari at the Mbaraki Sports Club.

The visitors took the lead five minutes before the break through former Sofapaka winger Joseph Nyaga.

The Dockers had to wait until the 65th to level through former Gor and Mathare United striker, Edwin Lavatsa.

Rangers were however, unlucky to have first choice goalkeeper, Patrick Matasi being forced out injured forcing Ian Otieno to step in but was good enough to stop the aggressive Bandari’s striking force.

In Muhoroni, hosts Muhoroni Youth and Western Stima shot blanks with the in form forward, Wycliffe Ochomo failing to add to his season’s tally of six for the home side who wasted a number of scoring chances in the first half.

Henry Omino however, was pleased to collect a point away in Muhoroni despite his striker Wesley Kemboi missing the chance to grab the winner in the dying minutes.