Robert Matano’s reign as Tusker FC coach looks to have come to the end following his side’s 1-0 loss to Gor Mahia in a Football Kenya Federation Premier League match on Sunday.
Matano reportedly had Sunday’s game to save his job having been given an ultimatum by club chairman Charles Gacheru to either beat Gor or face the sack.
Benson Omala delivered an early blow to Matano and his charges when he headed home inside 22 minutes.
Against the run of play, a cross was delivered into the box which Omala met expertly with a diving header to break the deadlock with his seventh goal of the season.
Until then, Gor had not threatened Tusker’s goal with the brewers asking the early questions when James Kibande’s effort was parried out by K’Ogalo goalkeeper Kevin Omondi.
Gor coach Jonathan McKinstry was forced into an early change in central defence with Joshua Onyango coming in for Emery Bayisenge.
Tusker would up the ante after going behind with Shafan Siwa and Ibrahim Joshua testing Omondi from distance.
Siwa almost equalized on the stroke of halftime when his curling effort was tipped just over by Omondi as Gor held on for a 1-0 lead at the break.
After the interval, Austin Odhiambo should have extended Gor’s lead only to miss from close range.
The midfielder beat his markers to find space but could only find the side netting.
That was his last action of the game as he was taken off for Ernest Wendo with Boniface Omondi replacing Kevin Simiyu in a double change for Gor.
By this time, Tusker had the intiative as they laid siege on K’Ogalo’s goal although without the end product.
Crosses in the box, particularly from Eric Zakayo kept Omondi busy while Gor defenders Kennedy Onyango and Joshua Onyango also cleared some.
Tusker also frustrated Gor by laying offside traps which slowed their rhythm whenever they attacked.
Victory leaves Gor second on the table with 15 points just one adrift of leaders Posta Rangers while Tusker are rooted in the mid table with eight points.