AFC Leopards tactician blames poor officiating after loss to Tusker
AFC Leopards head coach Patrick Aussems has blamed his side’s 1-2 loss to Tusker FC on alleged ‘poor officiating’.
According to the tactician, Deogracious Ojok’s late goal in stoppage time was scored from an offside position
The stoppage time goal denied the 12- time champions a win that the Belgian tacticians believes they were ‘robbed’ in the FKF Premier League match played at MISC Kasarani Stadium on Sunday.
“The final score is 2-1 in favour of Tusker but you have seen the reaction of everybody. I saw your (media) clip and it was a clear offside and so we have been robbed,” Aussems said.
The Belgian tactician further claimed that, “it’s what it is, and now we will keep working and as I told you we produced good football, I think the fans are happy and we will put our focus on next season.”
However, his counterpart Robert Matano, Ojok was in no way offside as he was the second player after being played onside by Leopards defender hence making the goal stand.
“No, I have watched the clip and so, that defender, (Robert Mudenyo) played Ojok (Deogracious) onside because Ojok was in the middle while the defender had played him on,” Matano said.
Matano further noted that, “There is no such offside because the last man was the AFC (Leopards) defender while the second man was the goal scorer.”
The defeat by the brewers ended Ingwe’s 11 match unbeaten streak. Their last defeat was on January 15, a 3-1 loss at the hands of Kariobangi Sharks, at the same venue.
Ingwe maintained their 10th position on 35 points, 10 behind fifth- placed Kariobangi Sharks while Tusker cut Kakamega Homeboyz’s lead at the top to only six with seven matches to play.
Leopards next play KCB on Saturday before the Mashemeji derby against hosts Gor Mahia on May 8 at Moi Stadium, Kisumu.
Tusker will have to battle it out against FC Talanta in the weekend before what could be a title decider against league leaders Kakamega Homeboyz on May 7.
Ojok scored a controversial stoppage time winner to earn Tusker FC a 2-1 win over AFC Leopards at the MISC Kasarani on Sunday.
The result put an end to Leopards’ 11-match unbeaten streak and brought Tusker to within six points of the FKF Premier League leaders Kakamega Homeboyz.
That set up some frenetic final few minutes and somehow Tusker found a winner through Ojok as their champions boosted their title defence bid with Homeboyz faltering yet again.
Homeboyz drew 2-2 at Kenya Police with Gaetan Masha scoring twice to ensure the leaders pinched at least a point from what was their third consecutive draw.
Nzoia Sugar and Ulinzi Stars drew 1-1 in the day’s early kick off with Brian Munyendo equalizing for the hosts with a last-minute penalty after John Kago had put Ulinzi in front in the first half.
