Kenyan champions Tusker cruise Arta Solar 3-0 into Caf Champions League first round with Zamalek
The Kenyan champions scored three goals on Saturday at Nyayo to ensure they advanced to the next phase of the Caf Champions League. They first leg ended 1-1 in Djibouti.
Tusker have sealed passage to the first round of the Caf Champions League after sealing a 3-0 win over Arta Solar 7 of Djibouti at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.
Shami Kibwana and Ibrahim Joshua scored a goal apiece to ensure the Brewers went to the break with a 2-0 lead. The third goal came after the break courtesy of Deogratius Ojok.
The first leg last weekend had ended 1-1 and it was the Kenyans who had a slim advantage owing to the away goal, heading into Saturday’s second leg.
Prior to the match, coach Robert Matano had expressed his delight at having options as opposed to the initial meeting where he had just 19 players to use.
His sentiments were proven right after just eight minutes. Joshua, who had scored in the 1-1 draw during the first leg, was brought down in the danger zone and the referee did not hesitate to point to the penalty spot.
New boy Kibwana, who was making his debut after joining from Kakamega Homeboyz, held his nerve to give the Football Kenya Federation Premier League champions a deserved lead.
The goal was a wake-up call to the visitors who reacted by upping their tempo. They thought they had pulled level after 15 minutes after Diafra Sakho found the back of the net, but his celebrations were cut short by the referee’s offside flag.
In the 21st minute, the Tanzanian attacker Ibrahim doubled the advantage. Jackson Macharia had an easy way past his markers before bringing in a cross, and the new signing headed it home to score his second goal in Tusker colours from as many matches.
There would have been more goals in favour of the home team in the first five minutes, but Boniface Muchiri and Macharia failed to capitalise on the chances they got.
Even after the half-time break, the Kenyans dominated the proceedings and used almost every opportunity to push for a goal. Arta Solar looked lost and frustrated, from the way they were playing.
In the 59th minute, Kenya international Daniel Sakari managed to get in a decent cross which found Muchiri in the danger zone. However, the latter, somehow, failed to hit the target with the goalkeeper beaten.
The Brewers dictated the proceedings at Nyayo and it was not a surprise when they scored a third. New signing Ojok was let loose in the danger zone, and Muchiri picked him out. The former capitalised on the chance to ensure Matano’s charges led comfortably.
Tusker had to finish the remaining 10 minutes or so with a man less after Teddy Osok, who had come in for Apollo Otieno, picked up an injury. With the hosts done with the number of subs, they had no option but to give the visitors the numerical advantage.
But the damage had already been done and the East Africans will play Zamalek in the first round, who got a bye in the preliminary round.
