Tusker FC reclaimed their place on top of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League standings after second placed KCB failed to earn maximum points against Gor Mahia on Sunday at the Thika Stadium.
Tusker had beaten Sofapaka 2-1 on Saturday, having bounced back from back to back losses to temporarily go past the bankers. The latter needed to win to restore their two-point lead, but failed to do so.
With three rounds of matches left, Tusker and KCB are both on 58 points, but Tusker sit top on goal difference. The brewers now just need to win all their remaining matches to claim their 12th Premier League title while KCB are now back to hoping Tusker drop points.
KCB had the chances against Gor, but just couldn’t convert to enable them earn victory and get fate back into their own hands.
Gor who are on the resurgence since the arrival of new coach Mark Harrison started bright and had a chance just after kick off but Tito Okello could not get the ball past the keeper after beating his two markers.
After 12 minutes, Gor had another chance when John Macharia sent Jules Ulimwengu through on goal, but the Burundian struck his shot straight at the KCB keeper.
KCB were slowly growing into the game and they began creating chances. Left back David Owino forced a decent save off Gor keeper Samwel Njau when he took on a well sliced shot from a freekick which the custodian parried away.
The bankers came closest on the half hour mark when Derrick Otanga broke into the box and clipped the ball over an onrushing Njau, but the ball bounced off the upright.
IN the second half, Gor started just as they did in the first half. Karim Nikiema had an effort cleared off the line by Nashon Alembi after tapping past the keeper.
Bankers tactician Zedekiah Zico Otieno made changes to his attacking front bringing on Reagan Otieno and David Simiyu for Owino and Martin Nderitu as he tried be more explosive and direct moving forward.
Reagan brought in some much needed impetus in attack and he offered another scoring chance when he was fouled in a dangerous area on the right. Mike Oduor took the resultant freekick but the ball bounced off the side netting.
He was in the thick of things few minutes later when he played a neat pass to Baraka Badi, but the right back saw his shot saved by an impressive Njau.
Meanwhile in other matches, Nzoia Sugar handed themselves a massive relegation reprieve when they beat Wazito FC 2-1 in their first match back at the Sudi Stadium in Bungoma.
Kevin Wafula and Hillary Simiyu scored quickfire goals in the first half and despite Wazito halving the deficit in the second half, Nzoia held on for the vital win that almost assures them of another season in the top flight.
Simiyu scored just three minutes into the game to hand Nzoia a dream start. After 18 minutes, Simiyu doubled the tally to all but cement the home side’s grasp of the game.
Just before the break, Wazito had a chance to get themselves back into the game but Kimani skied his effort from the penalty spot.
In the second half though, Kimani made amends from the penalty spot when he scored after another Moses Mwale foul inside the box. With 25 minutes left after halving the deficit, Wazito piled in the pressure for the equalizer but the home side defended well.
In Kakamega, Bandari came from a goal down to beat Kakamega Homeboyz 2-1 to pick their second successive victory. David Okoth had given Homeboyz a 17th minute lead with a well taken freekick. However, John Mwita scored the equalizer before Umaru Kasumba scored a late winner.
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