Tusker suffered a 2-1 defeat away to relegation fighting Wazito FC in Muhoroni on Sunday evening, denting their title hopes as fate slipped out of their hands and into record champions Gor Mahia’s way, after the latter won 2-0 against Ulinzi Stars in Nairobi.
Collins Neto struck a brace for the strugglers, including a late penalty as they hampered Tusker’s march towards a 13th league crown, and boosted their own hopes of avoiding automatic relegation.
Eric Mmata had come off the bench to level scores for the brewers with 10 minutes to go, but with only three of the regulation 90 left, they conceded a late penalty that Neto expertly tucked away.
With two rounds of matches left to play, the defeat saw Tusker drop top second place, two points behind leaders Gor who are on 67.
For Wazito, the victory was a massive one in the fight down under, as they moved to 26 points, four ahead of the automatic drop zone now occupied by Mathare United who lost by a solitary goal to Kakamega Homeboyz.
They now only need to pick a point in their next match to affirm their place in the play-off zone, and condemn Mathare to relegation.
Wazito meant business against Tusker from the word go as they piled in the pressure, forcing Tusker to defend deep. After just 14 minutes, they broke the deadlock.
Newto picked a long ball dipped behind the defense, and he rifled an unstoppable volley past Brian Bwire. It was the first open play goal that the brewers were conceding in 13 matches.
Urged on by their fans who had thronged the stadium to push them forward, Wazito camped in Tusker’s half and they almost scored the second when Stephen Mbulere broke on the counter but his shot drifted just wide.
Neto was denied by the woodwork 13 minutes to the break off a counter when he landed some space in the opposition box.
In the second half, Tusker came back determined to draw the tie into their favour and just five minutes in, they were denied by the bar when Shaphan Oyugi’s dipping shot from the right rolled over the woodwork.
Two minutes later, they were denied by the frame of goal again, this time Charles Momanyi’s glancing header from a corner coming off the upright. David Odoyo pounced on the rebound, but he sent his effort over the bar.
Tusker made changes, Lawrencde Luvanda, John Njuguna, Shaphan and Odoyo all coming off while Eric Zakayo, Collins Otieno, Stewart Omondi and Mmata coming on to try salvage the situation.
They were handed a way back in the 80th minute when Mmata glanced home a header from Levin Odhiambo’s corner.
While they thought they had a way back and were pushing for a possible winner, the brewers suffered an 87th minute sucker punch when Charles Momanyi handled inside the box.
Neto stepped forward and sent Bwire the wrong way to score the winner for Wazito.
