Posta Rangers have continued with their good run in the year after humbling defending champions Tusker 1-0 at the Thika Sub County Stadium to inch closer to the top five bracket.Rangers who were a joy to watch got the match winning goal in the second half through Bernard Ondiek who volleyed the ball to the top corner.Tusker are seeing very bad things here. Very terrible things— Meshack Kisenge (@kisengemeshack1) January 9, 2022 Rangers art in playing free flowing football saw them dominate the game from onset and despite opening the Tusker defense at will, they could not sneak the ball past Brian Bwire in the first half. The duo of Caleb Olilo and Brian Marita ran the show up front, causing loads of problems to the Tusker full backs who occasionally had the central defenders and the retreating midfielders bail them out. Kevin Monyi who was tasked in keeping close tabs on Olilo made committed a number of challenges on the former AFC Leopards winger but was not lucky with three minutes to the half time whistle as he became the first player to go into the referee’s book. Throughout the first half, Rangers goalkeeper Kelvin Opiyo had little to do as Tusker did not make any meaningful attack as Rangers overran them in the midfield, cutting supply to Ibrahim Joshua. Brian Marita thought he had given Rangers the lead in the 33rd minute when he tapped in a rebound after the ball had hit the woodwork but his celebrations were cut short by the assistant referee’s flag.##EDITORS_CHOICE## Two minutes later, Bwire’s strong palms came to the rescue of Tusker as he denied Joshua Nyatini who had pulled the trigger outside the box from giving Rangers the lead. Shami Kibwana who was arguably the best Tusker player in the first half was hauled off before restart for Stewart Omondi while Rodgers Ouma made way for John Njuguna. Matano who could not hide his frustration with Kibwana in the first half had on a number of occasions scolded the former Kakamega Homeboyz midfielder for his selfishness and lack of aggressiveness in winning possession back. Rangers took a deserved lead ten minutes into the second half when Bernard Ondiek volleyed the ball to the top corner after he was given room by the defence to pull the trigger. The goal irked Matano who exhausted his options by throwing in the trio of Daniel Sakari, Apollo Otieno and Eric Zakayo for Kevin Monyi, Lawrence Luvanda and Humphrey Mieno respectively. The fresh legs injected the much needed vigour for Tusker who dominated and pinned Rangers to their area but lacked the cutting edge in the final third. Their quest for the equalizer was slowed in the 75th minute Rangers custodian Kelvin Opiyo went down unchallenged but was cleared to continue by the medics. Rangers made their first change in the 79th minute with Nyatini paved way for Eliud Lokuwam. Okumbi would throw in Jackson Dwang and William Odero in the dying minutes of the game.Posta Rangers XI: Kelvin Opiyo, Kennedy Owino, David Ochieng, Dinken Mwema, Michael Apudo, Bernard Ondiek, Vincent Wasambo, Joshua Nyatini, Brian Marita, Chrispinus Onyango, Caleb OliloSubstitutes: Jairus Adira, William Odero, Jackson Dwang, Steiner Musasia, Eliud Lokuwam, Calvin Odongo, Head coach: Stanley Okumbi Tusker XI: Brian Bwire, Isaac Kipyegon, Eugene Asike, Christopher Oruchum, Kevin Monyi, Clyde Senaji, Shami Kibwana, Rodgers Ouma, Lawrence Luvanda, Ibrahim Joshua, Humphrey Mieno. Substitutes: Michael Wanjala, Wellington Ochieng, Daniel Sakari, Stewart Omondi, Eric Zakayo, Apollo Otieno, Deogratious Ojok, John Njuguna. Head coach: Robert Matano
