Record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia moved closer to a record 21st FKF Premier League title after playing to a 0-0 draw against KCB in a match at SportPesa Arena on Thursday afternoon.
K’Ogalo are now one win away from a record-extending title win and they need to defeat Muhoroni Youth at the weekend to achieve that feat.
Jonathan McKinstry’s coached side aimed to take advantage of mishaps by their key rivals, Tusker and Kenya Police, setting themselves up to secure the championship once again.
While Tusker managed only a 2-2 draw against Nairobi City Stars on Wednesday, Kenya Police suffered their first loss of the year, falling 1-0 to AFC Leopards.
KCB generally enjoyed more possession through the first quarter of the match, though clear chances with which to test Gor Mahia goalkeeper Kevin Omondi were hard to come by.
The visitors, meanwhile, offered a potent threat on the counterattack through the pace of Benson Omala but rarely executed cleanly when given a chance to move from back to front quickly.
One such example arose on the half-hour mark when a KCB corner ended in a swift attack for Gor, but Omala, having sprinted free of the defense down the right, pulled his effort well wide. Seconds later the Kenyan international striker had another chance, and this time his well-struck effort stung the palms of goalkeeper Gabriel Andika.
On 35 minutes Austin Odhiambo had the visitors’ first notable effort on target, striking for the top corner direct from a free kick, but Andika made a fine save to keep the score line blank.
Gor Mahia dialed up the pressure in the dying minutes of the first half, but the Bankers were able to hold firm and see the game level at 0-0 heading into the interval.
Odhiambo again tested Andika early in the second half, with his low shot from the edge of the penalty area smothered by the KCB goalkeeper, before Musa Masika headed wide of the near post from Sylvester Owino’s free-kick delivery.
KCB almost netted the opening goal on 70 minutes when some fine passing opened up space for James Mazembe, but his drive from the right of the box was turned away by Kevin Omondi.
The last attacking highlight arrived early in injury time when Gor Mahia substitute Lawrence powered a shot on target, but it was easily punched away by Andika to ensure the clash ended in a stalemate.