AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia fought to a scoreless draw in the 95th Mashemeji derby on Sunday at Nyayo National Stadium.
Thousands of people turned out for the Football Kenya Federation Premier League match.
The draw lifted K’Ogalo to third place in the log with 24 points and two games remaining, while Leopards remained eighth with 18 points.
Gor have won 34 times, Leopards have won 28 times, and the sides have shared 33 draws.
The game was closely contested, but the Leopards lost many chances in the last quarter that may have clinched the victory for them.
Gor Mahia coach Johnathan McKinistry was pleased with the result but admitted that his team was not at their best.
“Although both sides had little chances, the outcome seems fair. Leopards were on top of the game in the last minute and hurled all they could to score. Despite this, both teams played excellent football “McKinstry stated.
In the seventh minute, Gor won the first corner, which was taken by George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo but was headed wide by forward Benson Omala.
The Leopards’ first chance came in the 21st minute, following a wonderful connection between Ojo Olaniyi and Jaffery Owiti, but the former’s effort was saved by goalkeeper Gad Mathews.
Leopards would have gone into halftime with a goal if it hadn’t been for Joshua Onyang’o’s clearing at the conclusion of the first half.
“Gor Mahia were nowhere to be seen, and I believe they only had a few chances during the game. We squandered several opportunities, and I’m dissatisfied with this result. We should have won this game “AFC Leopards coach Patrick Aussems said.
“It’s a good point that we completely deserved, but I think we should have gotten all the points since we were the superior team,” he continued.
Geoffrey Ochieng had sent a back ball that was intercepted by Brian Wanyama, but the youngster’s pass for an unmarked Nyakeya was intercepted by Onyango, who cleared it back to the field of play.
McKinstry substituted Alpha Onyango for the ineffectual Sydney Ochieng in the middle, where the Leopards had dominated.
Substitute John Macharia, who came on for Austin Odhiambo in the second half, energized Gor’s midfield.
The winger caused problems for Kayce Odhiambo, but his deliveries were intercepted by the Ingwe defense.
Leopards camped in their opponents’ half in the final 10 minutes but were unlucky to squander clear goal scoring opportunities.
Odhiambo then dribbled past defender Peter Thiong’o on the left wing and released a shooting pass, which was collected by Robert Mudenyu and cleared.
Victor Omune was replaced by midfielder Giovanni Lukhumwa in the 57th minute and Aussems followed suit.
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