Ulinzi Stars and Mathare United lost opportunities to pull level with mid-season leaders Tusker FC and crowd the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) summit after drawing their final first leg encounters on Thursday.
The title-chasing sides took to the pitch on a day the Independent Disciplinary and Complaints Committee (IDCC) ruled to dock champions, Gor Mahia three points to knock them off the top for hooliganism.
Ulinzi were forced to a 1-1 stalemate by battling Kakamega Homeboyz at their Afraha Stadium home-turf in Nakuru while Mathare were checked by high flying Posta Rangers in a barren stalemate in Machakos.
The results left Tusker FC as the half-term champions on 29 points, two clear of Ulinzi and Mathare who are separated by goal difference in second and third with K’Ogalo dropping to fourth on 26.
Promoted Rangers whose aim at the start of the campaign was to avoid the chop are the closest challengers to the titans in fifth, four off the lead as they look poised to mount a shock title challenge.
Former league leaders and traditional giants, AFC Leopards woes deepened when they were also deducted three points by IDCC to leave them languishing in 11th on 17, 12 points off the pace after a promising start to the season.
The league’s top scorer Wycliffe Ochomo’s solo goal ten minutes from full time proved the difference in a 1-0 win over Chemelil Sugar as the Golden Boot race leader notched his 11th in 15 outings to hand Muhoroni Youth who fired their head coach, James Omondi two days ago a huge lift.
Muhoroni remain sixth on 23 mid-season while Chemelil are down to 12th.
Perennial strugglers, Nairobi City Stars and 2009 champions, Sofapaka will open the second term of the campaign battling to remain in the KPL after occupying the bottom two places on 10 and seven points.
Thika United who started in the drop zone have bought a five-point cushion from the tail-enders after their revival under James Nandwa continued with a 1-1 draw at Bandari.
Sony Sugar who also changed coaches after a nightmare start are in the top ten after blanking the hapless City Stars 2-0 in Awendo to close on 19 points as they jumped above Bandari (18) who fired Twahir Muhiddin last week.
Ulinzi, the four-time champions, opened the scoring with the club top scorer John Makwatta on target at the 10th minute with a peach of a finish that will be among the contenders of the goal of the season.
Homeboyz midfielder David Okoth hauled the game level at 67th to deny hosts the crucial win.
Fredrick Onyango who was re-signed by Sony from Tusker FC struck for the sugar millers in the opening minute before Victor Ademba sealed the win seconds before end of first half.
Former Gor Mahia lethal striker Dan Sserenkuma opened scoring sheet for Bandari against Thika at the hour mark before Eugine Mukangula’s last minute goal earned Thika a share of the spoils at the Mbaraki Stadium in Mombasa.
Ushuru FC recovered from their 4-1 mauling at Bandari in the weekend to dim the lights out of Western Stima 1-3 in a stirring away victory for the taxmen.
Joash Onyango’s own goal in the first minute precluded Stima’s implosion before Kennedy Odour adding a second for Ushuru.
Dennis Wafula put the visitors out of reach in the 78th with Bernard Ondiek pulling one back in the 28th to offer the hosts hopes of a comeback that was never to be.
Ushuru move 12th also on 17 with Leopards. The league resumes after a month-long break.
