KCB mount pressure on Tusker with win over Vihiga

A late Samuel Mwangi strike ensured KCB heaped the pressure on log leaders Tusker as they beat a stubborn Vihiga United 1-0 in the early kick-off fixture on Saturday in Utalii Grounds.

Second-placed KCB cut their gap to log leaders to just one point with a game in hand after emerging victorious against Vihiga in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) match.

Strong start

KCB started the game strongly as they dominated the early possession exchange in the game. Vihiga kept a compact shape in the early minutes to snuff out any danger from KCB.

In a turn of events, it is Vihiga who had the earliest attempts of the game. Hitting two shots at the KCB keeper Gabriel Andika. Imbusia Alex aimed one directly at Andika in the KCB goal and the keeper collected easily. The other shot from Isabwa Michael had the keeper scrambling down to his right when it flashed just wide minutes later.

KCB grew weary as the game progressed and it is Vihiga United who remarkably grew in the game to keep The Bankers on the backfoot. The boys from Vihiga took it upon themselves trying to prise open the resolute KCB defence that had only conceded four goals coming into the game.

Zedekiah Zico Otieno's charges stood firm and only allowed Vihiga long-range shots from outside the box. The two teams pushed but none of them could create clear cut opportunities to score as they went into the half time break level 0-0.

Second half

Vihiga started the second half as they did in the first half, determined to snatch the lead in the game. They pushed deep into the KCB territory but the quality was lacking from them in the final third as they failed to even trouble the KCB goalkeeper.

Just before the second half water break, KCB got a free-kick just outside the Vihiga box. Substitute Victor Omondi hit it but the Vihiga wall that stood to provide cover the threat blocked the fierce strike much to the protest of a handball from the KCB unit.

The centre referee who was nearby waved the game to play on. The telling moment of the game would, however, come eight minutes to time when super-sub Samuel Mwangi reacted quickest to a poor clearance from the Vihiga defence in the box after a floated cross from Dennis Odhiambo.

In the end, KCB picked up all three crucial points to return back to winning ways after a frustrating draw in their last fixture.