)
This is how Robert Matano's Tusker managed to end AFC Leopards' unbeaten run to storm back into the title race last Sunday.
On Sunday afternoon, Tusker brought AFC Leopards’ 10-game unbeaten run to an abrupt end after an unfortunate own goal effectively brought the Ruaraka-based side back into the title race.
The game’s tightness was reflected in the end result, a 1-0 win for the Brewers, showing the fine margins the nature of the game was defined by.
Although the own goal came from a corner kick swang in by Mike Oduor before Randy Bakari deflected it into his own net, Robert Matano did a good job of shutting down the flanks, thus rendering Leopards ineffective from the first minute to the last.
)
20:09 - 13.03.2024
FOOTBALL Austin Odhiambo and seven biggest absentees from latest Harambee Stars squad
Gor Mahia's Austin Odhiambo is among the eight most notable absentees from Engin Firat's latest Harambee Stars squad.
During Leopards’ 10-game unbeaten run, one of their biggest strengths has been their efficiency from the flanks.
In possession, their fullbacks took high and wide positions to maintain the width, which allowed their dynamic runners to stay narrow and occupy positions next to the center forward and get into areas where they could score goals.
This has proven difficult to stop, but Matano insisted after the match that his boys had done a good job of making Ingwe ineffective from the flanks.
)
19:39 - 13.03.2024
STARS ABROAD Former Gor Mahia defender loaned out to yet another Swedish third-tier club
Odhiambo has struggled to get going at Djurgaden, the club Michael Olunga rose to prominence with.
“The match was tightly contested due to the teams' equal strength. Opportunities to break through were scarce, but we effectively shut down our opponents' options on the wings,” Matano stated after the match.
“They struggled to find openings, thwarting their usual chances. This was part of our strategy to control the game,” he added.
His charges did a good job of ensuring the little half-spaces in the middle and final third were blocked, which forced the wingers, in this case Hassan Beja on the left and Jaffari Owiti on the right, to move into wide positions, meaning they got Leopards unbalanced as the fullbacks, Vincent Mahiga and Aziz Okaka, were already staying wide.
This would force the fullbacks into hitting long balls over the top to find Leopards striker Arthur Gitego as seen in the 29th minute, and the Tusker center-backs made sure to be commanding on the afternoon.
)
)
)
This was illustrated again right after the break when four Tusker players closed down Beja when he tried to drive with the ball through the left half-space, denying him time and space to run in behind.
)
)
)
Tusker were determined to press high and play with a high line to pin back Leopards, which would occasionally leave them vulnerable to the press especially if they could not stop Ingwe’s playmaker-in-chief, Kayci Odhiambo from making those line-breaking passes to the willing runners.
)
)
)
)
Matano also gave his wingers clear instructions to track back without the ball, especially considering he was aware that, by forcing Ingwe wingers to hug the line, they still had the capability to whip dangerous balls into the box.
This was illustrated with Oduor's tackle on Beja in an earlier screenshot (above) as well.
)
)
)
)
In the end, Tusker had enough about themselves to get the result over the line and reach the 43-point mark for the season and are second in the league.
Matano would surely have been pleased to get one over his former employees in the end, and as he attempts to quench his thirst for a first league title since 2021, that win will get Gor Mahia fans sweating, with the Brewers just seven points behind with 10 games of the season left to play.
Follow Pulse Sports WhatsApp channel for more news.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)