SPL leaders Mathare, Tusker share the spoils

Mathare United missed the chance to go clear at the top of the SportPesa Premier League (SPL) on Thursday after letting a lead slip to draw with closest challengers, Tusker FC 2-2 in an enthralling derby at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.

The result enabled chasing sides, Posta Rangers (20) and Ulinzi Stars (19) to bounce back in contention with Francis Kimanzi’s side remaining top on 22 points, one above Tusker in second.

Michael Khamati and Eric Johanna grabbed a brace each for their sides in the first half as Kimanzi came head-to-head for the first time with the team he was forced to step aside last October after two underwhelming seasons.

It took Khamati less than a minute to put the ball behind the net, heading past Robert Mboya in the Mathare goal to give the Brewers a dream start.

Johanna restored parity in two minutes later in a dizzying start to the encounter after he capitalised on a miscommunication between Martin Kiiza and Collins Shivachi in the Brewers’ rearguard.

Kimanzi’s side then pressed the foot down the pedal with the presence of long time absentee Daniel Mwaura who partnered Derrick Onyango in attack keeping Tusker’s back-line of James Situma and company on their toes.

Onyango had a guilt-edged chance to take his side to the lead but shot straight at keeper David Okello’s hands from inside the box after a good exchange between Edward Seda and Whyvonne Isuza.

Seda then weaved his way around Tusker’s defence before before releasing Johanna in the box and the SPL Midfielder of the Year made no mistake with a clinical finish in the 35th to give Mathare a 2-1 lead.

But even before celebrations died down, Mboya gifted Tusker the equaliser when he dropped the ball in front of Khamati who tapped in with ease to bag his second and level matters at 2-2.

After the blunder; Mboya remained on the ground for a length period although he did not appear to be injured as he raced to confront Khamati and Kimanzi substituted him with Peter Odhiambo.

Mathare were more vicious in the attack after the break with Robinson Kamura coming close in the 52nd with a free-kick from outside the area.

Tusker’s former AFC Leopards ace Noah Wafula will blame himself for skewing the ball wide with the substitute keeper to beat.

His coach, Paul Nkata then brought on Danson Kago for Jackson Macharia before resting Khamati with Ghanian Stephe Owusu as the clock ticked down towards full-time with none of the teams able to fashion a late winner.

“Sometimes in big games such things happen, unfortunately he got injured. The good thing is that his replacement was up to task. That second goal was easy we should have done better,” Kimanzi rued after the game.

“Going forward we shall take each match at a time. We are not even into the mid season so title talk is a joke. We just need to keep up the spirit and avoid dropping points,” the former Harambee Stars and Sofapaka FC boss remarked on the chances of winning a second title with Mathare after leading them to the 2008 crown.