Wasteful Gor Mahia held to stalemate by KCB in drub encounter

Wasteful Gor Mahia held to stalemate by KCB in drub encounter

Stephen Awino 18:00 - 23.10.2024

Gor Mahia huffed and puffed but could not find a way to break the deadlock against KCB, as both sides settled for a 0-0 draw.

Gor Mahia's winning was halted by on-form KCB, who held them to a 0-0 in a clash that took place at the Dandora stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Head coach Leonardo Neiva opted to tweak the backline that kept out Posta Rangers at the Machakos Stadium on Saturday with Gad Mathews returning in goal.

Alphonce Omija was the only defenders in the last outing that kept his place in the side, being joined by Sylvester Owino, Paul Ochuoga and Geoffrey Ochieng, who donned the captain's arm band.

In midfield, Alpha Onyango came in for Boniface Omondi while the returning Rooney Onyango joined the attack in place of Christopher Ochieng.

KCB's Paul Odhiambo opted a relatively similar XI that dispatched Kakamega Homeboyz 4-1 on Saturday with the exception of the returning skipper Brian Ochieng in for Faraja Ominde and attacker Henry Onyango  in place of Joshua Nyatini.

First half

The game started clumsily in the opening minutes as neither team really managed to string together a passage of play that amounted to anything.

It was back and forth until things got heated in the 19th minute with KCB's Henry Onyango being booked for a hard tackle on Austin Odhiambo that riled up the overwhelming home fans.

Gedeon Bendeka had a golden opportunity to put the defending champions ahead when he disposed a fumbling Faruk Shikhalo in his own box but couldn't find the right angle to find the back of the net.

Gad Mathews not be outdone by his opposing number was caught of his line as Stephen Etyang nonchalantly dribbled past him in a KCB counter attack but speedy winger couldn't find any of his teammates in the box.

Gor's Rooney Onyango was the second player to go into the referees books in the 41st minute in a half that saw no breakthrough going into the break.

Second half

K'Ogalo came out the changing room fired up, pinning the Bankers in their own half with a barrage of attacks but the Patrick Odiambo-coached side defended well.

Odhiambo introduced Danson Kiprono to further steady the ship with Henry Onyango coming off in the 51st minute.

Some minutes later Neiva responded by introducing Musa Shariff and Christopher Ochieng' for Bryson Wangai and Paul Ochuoga respectively to try and swing the game in their favor but the Bankers held true to share spoils on the day.

The defending champions had a plethora of chances but failed capitalize on them with Rooney Onyango brilliantly dribbling past the Bankers defense but firing wide in the 75th minute before Christopher Ochieng followed suit with his header going wide as well minutes later from a Samule Kapen cross.

K'Ogalo's woes on the day was compounded by the forced substitution of Sylvester Owino who came off in the 83rd minute injured to be replaced by Joshua Onyango.

The defending champions huffed and puffed but the league leaders kept their composure in defense to share the spoils on the day.The

The result sees both teams remain unbeaten as KCB maintained their stay at the top with 14 points while Gor Mahia dropped a place on the log now sitting 8th with 7 points in 3 matches played.