AFC Leopards defeated Football Kenya Federation Premier League champions Tusker 1-0 in their season-opening game at Thika Stadium on Sunday.
South Sudan international Musa Saad scored the goal that separated the two sides in the first half.
The local giants had to do with a largely different squad as up to 17 left and were not able to sign any new stars given the Fifa transfer ban in place. On the other hand, Tusker – who progressed to the second preliminary round of the Caf Champions League – paraded a team with very experienced stars.
Going into the game there was gloom and doom, most pundits had written off AFC Leopards. It was expected to be a game of the defending champions whitewashing AFC Leopards.
AFC Leopards Chairman has been under pressure trying to figure out how to solve the financial mess at the den.
AFC Leopards could have gone ahead in the eighth minute when they surged forward with a quick counter-attack, but Caleb Olilo was unable to find the target in the end as his shot hit the side netting.
A quick counter-attack from the leopards saw Peter Thiong’o shot off target with the final ball from the left wing.
Leopards registered a deserved lead in the 16th minute when Saad scored after a few minutes of dominance.
Clyde Senaji who left AFC Leopards in the transfer window and joined Tusker, could have restored parity, but he missed the target after Eric Zakayo defense splitting pass set him on goal.
Coach Robert Matano had name an unchanged backline from the Gor Mahia game – made three substitutions as the second half began, with Kevin Monyi, Rodgers Ouma, and Jackon Macharia coming on as Shami Kibwana, John Njuguna, and Zakayo were rested.
Tusker wasted a chance to equalize in the 62nd minute when they won a penalty after Lewis Bandi brought down Muchiri, but he shot the penalty wide.
Maxwell Mulili made a great diving save to deny Tusker’s Muchiri in the 75th minute. Although the Brewers looked re-energised in the last 20 minutes, they were unable to score against Ingwe, who defended deep to eventually pick up three points.
