Tusker endured a nightmarish evening at Ruaraka Complex in Nairobi, where they crashed to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of AFC Leopards to bow out of the quarterfinal stage of the Betway Cup on Wednesday.
The two teams were battling it out for the three remaining semifinal spot, with one already decided as Equity FC eased past Bandari by a similar margin.
Ingwe did most of the attacking in the opening exchanges with Collins Shichenje making good runs into the box from midfield. The Leopards midfielder had an opportunity to break the deadlock in the 13th minute, but he placed his effort over the crossbar from close range.
Tusker created a more glaring opportunity towards the half-hour mark when a header from Luke Namanda following a corner-kick produced a goal-line clearance from Lewis Bandi.
AFC Leopards were awarded a rather dubious penalty in the 34th minute when Sammy Miseh was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box.
Isaac Kipyegon scored with the penalty kick sending the keeper the wrong way.
With the 4oth minute mark approaching, Tusker had an opportunity for an equalizer when Kevin Okoth but the Leopards defence scrambled well after a lapse in concentration led to Apolo Otieno and Namanda sniffing a chance with Oyemba off his line.
As Leopards controlling proceedings, they had two opportunities to go 2-0 up a minute before the break, with both chances falling to Rupia.
Tusker were the better team at the start of the second half and came close to scoring just after the hour mark when Muchiri broke through on goal, but he was superbly denied in a one-on-one with Oyemba.
Meja had a chance for an equalizer in the 76th minute but his glancing header sailed just wide of the upright.
Marvin Nabwire almost extended Leopards the lead in the 82nd minute, the midfielder got beyond his defender before firing a low effort at Mboya , who managed to palm the effort away.
Mboya was called into action minutes later once again, this time parrying Elvis Rupia’s powerful effort out for a corner.
Tusker finished the game the stronger of the two, but could not find the all important winning goals and hence bowed out of the knockout tournament.
