KCB on Sunday narrowed the gap between them and leaders Tusker to one point after thrashing Kariobangi Sharks 3-0 in an entertaining FKF Premier League match played at Thika Stadium.
The bankers were clinical and precise in the match after scoring in the opening five minutes of each half where Samwel Mwangi and Baraka Badi hit the target before Michael Oduor sealed the win late in the match.
The win takes KCB’s tally to 54 points, a point behind league leaders Tusker with six matches remaining before the season ends.
On the backside, the defeat ended Kariobangi Sharks five match unbeaten run. Erick Kapaito’s six-match scoring spree also came to an end. Despite that, Kapaito still leads the top scoring charts with 22 goals, six goals shy of Charles Odero’s (Scarlet FC) feat (28 goals) achieved in the 1983 season.
The match started on a high note with KCB going on the offensive right from the kick-off whistle, a tactic that bore fruits in the fifth minute when Michael Oduor set up Mwangi in the area for an easy tap in from close range to give the bankers an early 1-0 lead.
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KCB would then control the pace of the game, denying Sharks danger man and top scorer Kapaito from touching the ball as the midfield trio of Michael Oduor, Samwel Mwangi and Curtis Wekesa controlled the match.
In the 20th minute, Wekesa left dead the Sharks defense with some great footwork in the area to set up David Simiyu who sent the ball wide.
Sharks first real chance came at the half hour mark when Kapaito set up Shaphan Oyugi whose shot was thwarted by KCB captain Joseph Ochuka in goal.
The bankers held on a narrow 1-0 lead at the break with Ochuka marshalling his defenders well at the back.
In the final half, Sharks tactician William Muluya brought in Tom Teka, James Mazembe, Dan Sakari and Julius Masaba for Peter Lwasa, Geoffrey Onyango, Robert Onyango and Ibrahim Ochieng in a swift attempt to get back into the game.
However, it was KCB who hit the target early after the bankers were awarded a penalty when Shark’s defender Chuol Kuol fouled Henry Onyango in the penalty box.
Badi stepped up to easily slot the penalty home past a diving Sharks goalkeeper Brian Olango in the 50th minute.
Eight minutes later, KCB put the game past Sharks' reach when Simiyu on a counter attack delivered a dangerous cross into the area to find Michael Oduor whose volley was too good for Olango as KCB took a commanding 3-0 lead with half an hour still to play.
KCB held onto their three-goal margin to seal all the maximum points that reignite their Premier League title ambitions.
