Eric Otieno came off the bench to notch a 90th-minute winner as Tusker FC as they beat Ulinzi Stars 1-0 to storm to the FKF Cup final.
The pre-match analysis had been filled with rumors of coach Bernard Mwalala leaving after a spate of poor results but their earlier showing didn’t have any ingredient of a team in turmoil. With Boniface Muchiri and Stephen Etyang on their side, the soldiers had the better chances in the first half with the latter being a thorn for Tusker’s Kevin Monyi who was deputizing for Daniel Sakari who lost his father just a day to the game.
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Tusker real chance in the first half came through Mike Oduor whose cross was almost diverted by Boniface Andayi for an own goal.
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Ulinzi continued to prod in the second half and John Kago felt he had earned his side a penalty when his strike came off the hands of a Tusker defender but the referee was having none of the talk. Omar Mbongi’s throw was then misjudged by b0th Michael Kibwage and his keeper Brin Bwire but the latter reacted quickly to punch the ball to safety following that slight miscommunication on who among them was to handle the ball.
If Mbongi’s threat was not a warning enough, Muchiri was to hit the upright in the 53rd minute with Bwire well beaten via a free kick but the player injured himself in the process and was replaced by Clinton Omondi.
With Ulinzi prodding, Robert Matano then made a double change and brought in Eric Otieno and Eric Mmata for Luvanda and Ojok and the change was to bear fruits at the tail end of the match when Otieno was to head in the winner following an inch-perfect cross from Levin Odhiambo after getting the better of Mbongi who thought he had covered his marked well.
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