Tusker FC have booked a ticket into the round of 16 of the MozzartBet FKF Cup after a hard earned 2-1 victory over Kwale-based Bumbani Stars FC at the Ukunda Showground on Sunday.
Goals from Daniel Sakari and Eric Zakayo in either half gave Tusker the win, with the home side halving the deficit 20 minutes to time from the penalty spot through Saidi Zamani..
Under hot conditions in Ukunda, Tusker had started the game well with Eric Otieno seeing a close range shot blocked by the keeper, while Joseph Mwangi’s swift tap beyond the keeper was inches wide after some good change of passes inside the box.
The Brewers ultimately opened the scoring in the 25th minute of the game, Sakari scoring with a brilliant shot from the edge of the box on his weaker left foot.
The hot conditions hugely had an impact on the game’s pace with chances few and most of the duels restricted to the middle of the pack.
Sakari almost had a second at the stroke of halftime with a similar shot from range, but this time the keeper palmed away the shot for a corner.
In the second half, Tusker made offensive changes, Eric Kapaito, John Njuguna and Fabian Adikiny coming in for Lawrence Luvanda, Mwangi and Eric Otieno.
The brewers almost had a second on the hour mark, when Adikiny and Zakayo changed passes on the right before releasing Kapaito, but he couldn’t get power behind his shot.
But, the second finally came five minutes later, Zakayo striking into the roof of the net with a shot from the edge of the area after being set up by Collins Otieno.
The home side halved the deficit five minutes later from the spot, Zamani scoring after the referee adjudged Teka to have handled the ball inside the box as he made a clearance.
The goal gave the hosts some confidence into the final 20 minutes of the game as they dumped balls inside the box, and almost scored at the death but an effort from close range came off the bar.
