Tusker FC, Kenya’s representatives in the CAF Champions League were held to a 1-1 draw by visiting Mauritian side AS Port Louis 2000 in the first leg of the preliminary round at the Kasarani Stadium on Saturday.
The Mauritius side picked a vital away goal in a match that Tusker failed to glitter.
Ivory Coast player Ephrem Guikan scored for Port Louis three minutes into the second half, cancelling out Shafik Batambuze’s first half goal.
“Today’s result is disappointing because the boys did not play as per the way I wanted them to. We did not create many chances and we conceded a cheap goal. But the tie is not yet over. We have to prepare well and fight to win in the second leg,” George ‘Best’ Nsimbe, the Tusker FC tactician offered after the match.
The visitors left the pitch and the stadium in song and dance in what they considered a win against the hosts.
After scoring, the visitors went on a time wasting spree, frustrating Tusker and stifling their efforts anytime they went out on the offensive.
“This is a big result for us because Mauritius is a very small country compared to Kenya. To be honest we did not come here to win because we didn’t think we could win. But now, we see how Tusker play, we know a bit about them and heading into the return leg, we will do more,” Sakoor Boodhan, the Port Louis coach said.
Goalkeepers untested
Before Batambuze’s goal in the 29th minute, none of the two goalkeepers were tested. Noah Wafula had a swinging shot from the right go wide while Allan Wanga’s freekick deflected off the wall and was punched away by the keeper.
The brewers appeared to be slow and despite a good build up from the back, the final ball to deliver a goal was always missing.
The Port Louis backline organized their defensive lines well. Tusker’s efforts to play cross-balls were thwarted by the vertically gifted Mauritians.
A minute to the half hour mark, Batambuze curled in the ball straight from the corner to break the deadlock.
Humphrey Mieno came close to doubling the advantage a minute later but his volley from the edge of the box went wide.
David Okello in the Tusker FC goal remained untested throughout the opening half, but he found himself picking the ball from his own net three minutes after the restart when Ephrem Guikan was left with the simple task of tapping the ball home after Okello spilled a shot from Andrisoa Raniandranasana.
The visitors frustrated Tusker with time wasting tactics, going down from every slight touch. Nsimbe was forced into a sub, pulling out Danson Kago who limped off with injury and brought in one of his new signings Victor Ndinya. He also hauled off Wafula for Michael Khamati.
Ten minutes from time, Raniandranasana found himself in acres of space to drive into the box but as he prepared to pull the trigger with only Okello to beat, Batambuze rushed back with a superb tackle to deny him the chance.
Tusker exerted pressure
Tusker exerted pressure with Clifford Alwanga being introduced later for Hashim Ssempala, but the score would not change even with five minutes of additional time.
The return leg will be played in Mauritius next week on Sunday.
At the same time, Ulinzi Stars on Friday began their CAF Confederations Cup campaign on a low after losing 1-0 to Libyan side Al Hilal Benghazi in a match played at the Cairo Military Academy Stadium.
Ahmed Abaar struck the lone goal in the 47th minute. The soldiers must now win by two clear goals in the return leg which will be played in Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium on Saturday afternoon to advance to the first round.
Ulinzi returned to the country on Saturday night.
Elsewhere, neighbors Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) from Uganda began their campaign on a high after winning 1-0 against Angolan side Premiere de Agosto. Geoffrey Sserunkuma scored the all important goal in the 49th minute.
Sports News Arena