After watching his team snap a three-match losing streak with a smash-and-grab 1-0 victory over Sofapaka FC at the Kasarani Annex on Sunday, Robert Matano, the head coach of Tusker FC, was relieved.
After a strong run of six straight victories, Matano began feeling some pressure after two back-to-back draws, one after taking a 2-0 lead, and a defeat against Bandari FC. Still, a victory away from home against Sofapaka put them back atop the table.
"The guys performed very well, showing great enthusiasm, focus, and organization. Excellent performance is critical. It's beautiful that we have made amends, and now we must concentrate on continuing our winning streak, said Matano. Sofapaka's Samwel Olwande clears the ball despite pressure from Tusker's Joshua Ibrahim
He furthered, "There will undoubtedly be pressure when you lose or tie if you are a winner and used to winning. But we can't only concentrate on that stress. Now, consistency must be our main priority. There is a marathon game in the league. Just ten matches played; we have 24 to go."
Ibrahim Joshua of Tanzania scored the lone goal against Sofapaka in the 31st minute following another display of Humphrey Mineo's impeccable passing skills.
Joshua completed the rest by sending the ball into the bottom right corner with goalkeeper Kevin Omondi off his line, earning the captain his third assist in as many games.
Before that, Tusker threatened following a solid start, with shots from Joshua, David Majak and Charles Momanyi, who headed Mineo's free-kick.
Except for a Geoffrey Ojunga shot that he quickly picked off in the second half, Brian Bwire, who was making his maiden start after usual starter Patrick Matasi was not in the starting line up to the bench, was remarkably untroubled the whole game.
Tusker should have won the match with two opportunities remaining at the death. The ball was asking for a touch into an empty net when Daniel Sakari's errant cross from the right rolled across the goal, and Deogratious Ojok arrived a second late.
When Macharia let the youngster through on the left after a beautiful team play by Tusker, Eric Zakayo should have done better, but his effort was futile.
With the win, Tusker now leads the league with 23 points, one more than KCB in second place, while KCB drops to third after being humiliated 2-0 by Kenya Police.
AFC Leopards moved to ninth after defeating Bandari FC 2-0 in Mombasa, while Gor Mahia, their archrivals, ascended to fourth with 20 points after defeating Vihiga Bullets 3-1 in Kisumu.
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