Defending FKFPL Champions Tusker FC needed a late equalizer from Charles Momanyi to at least take a point home as they laboured to a 1-1 draw with Talanta FC on Sunday at the Ruaraka Grounds.Alvin Ochieng had given Talanta the lead in the 26th minute before breaking down in the last minutes to a Momanyi headed goal from a corner to get their sixth draw of the season.##NAJAVA_MECA_7088120##The result means that Tusker have dropped more points after a run of four straight wins in all competitions and find themselves third on the log with 35 points.Ken Kenyatta’s Talanta dropped a place into 15th with a total of 18 points.”I take this as a loss,” Tusker head coach Robert Matano said at full time. “We didn’t play well and this is not what this game needed. We should have taken the three points.”Ken Kenyatta on the other hand was content with the draw but had a word on the officiating.”Alvin was denied a clear goal in the second half, I don’t understand the officials on that call,” he said.Game Recap. Riding on a good run of form, Tusker showed their intentions early on and thought they had taken the lead inside the 12th minute only Eric Mmata’s goal to be ruled offside.Jackson Macharia had found some space inside the box, levitated and unleashed a snap shot that was rebounded into Mmata’s path. The former Sharks man buried his chance only to be greeted by the referee’s raised flag.Clinical Rangers shoot down Ulinzi to register sixth win of the seasonMacharia then found space to strike from range after 15 minutes but his effort went wide.In a typical off the run of play move, the home side of the day – Talanta – found themselves in the lead after a shanked ball found Alvin Ochieng blistering through the right side.The exciting forward skipped past Sakari before striking the ball past Bwire and into the roof of the net.The Tusker team, bench and group of supporters looked stunned, as December Tsisakah missed another wide open chance two minutes later to double Talanta’s lead.The defending champs were finding it difficult to carve out opportunities with several breakdowns between Macharia and Mmata accounting for much of the team frustrations at halftime.The second half took a similar script early on as Herman Mwambegu – with the first chance of the half- shot straight at Bwire.Matano did a triple change after the hour mark bringing on Shaphan Siwa, Deogratious Ojok and Eric Zakayo for Macharia, Mmata and Eric Otieno.It was however Talanta who looked to score again – and they did – only for Alvin Ochieng’s effort from a December ball to be flagged offside in the 65th minute.It’s a dream come true – Pauline Chege speaks after national team inclusionSubstitute Danson Kago was the next man to come close for Talanta but his 70th minute headed ball looped over the bar.Tusker brought in Rodgers Ouma for David Odoyo with a quarter of the game to go and within the second half stretch – only Humphrey Mieno’s long range shot had come close to The Brewers levelling matters.You could easily feel the tension at the Ruaraka Stadium as the clock ticked and the fans gathered were soon up their seats as defender Charles Momanyi rose highest to head in an 86th minute equalizer from a Rodgers Ouma corner.At full time, the silence was loud as the Tusker fans and players slowly made their way out of the grounds.LINEUPSTalanta FCSTARTING XI: James Omusinde, Peter Njammah, Erick Lusala, Shela Mandela, Ian Omondi, Luis Masika, Alvin Ochieng, Alex Luganji, Herman Mwambegu, December Tsisakah, George Ouma.Subs: Jairus Adira, Custro Ogendo, Danson Kago, Elisha Ouma.Tusker FCSTARTING XI: Brian Bwire, Kevin Monyi, Daniel Sakari, Charles Momanyi, Michael Kibwage, David Odoyo, Eric Mmata, Humphrey Mieno, Eric Otieno, Jackson Macharia, Shami Mwinyi.Subs: Michael Wanjala, Kalos Kirenge, Jimmy Mbugua, Shaphan Siwa, Rodgers Ouma, Zakayo Eric, Lawrence Luvanda, Deogratious Ojok, Stewart Omondi.
