The much-hyped Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) clash pitting Kenya Police against AFC Leopards that was staged at Nyayo National Stadium ended in a barren draw.The clash was the talk of the town in the preceding days given the hype it had attracted on social media but both teams, failed to cancel out each other on the pitch and thus, settled for a point.With a win on either side a enough guarantee to the top three, none of the teams depicted a sign of blinking first as they rattled each other up to the final whistle.With Leopards having depth hitches due to injuries that have hit their camp, coach Patrick Aussems had to contend in working with the available players.The same could not be said of their opponent who paraded a star-studded starting team that was expected to tear Ingwe apart with ease. However, that was not the case as Police struggled to turn possession into goals thanks to the solid resistance they faced from Leopards. Vihiga Bullets beat Mathare to end 18-game winless streak, Wazito fall to TalantaDavid Okoth would have given Police the lead in the ninth minute after the ball was squared to his favourite left feet but his hard drilled shot flew over the bar.Leopards were forced into an early change after Tedian Esilaba was stretchered off in the 18th minute after coming out worse in a tackle a minute earlier.Esilaba who was already in Isaac Hamisi’s book for a dangerous tackle committed in the 15th minute had an afternoon to forget after picking an injury that saw him drop to the ground and leave the pitch on a stretcher.Police left back David Owino survived a caution in the worst case scenario after he deliberately handled the ball with both hands in the 32nd minute while it was still in play.The defender adjudged the aerial ball to be out of play as he collected it for what would have been a quick throw in but centre referee Isaac Hamisi ruled that the ball was still in play and consequently, awarded Leopards a foul.The incident sparked protest from the Leopards bench who wanted the former Mathare United man cautioned or sent off pitch for illegal use of the arm.Police dominated possession for large spells in the first half but the timely interceptions, tight marking and proper reading of the game worked well for Leopards.Second halfThe first and clearest chance in the half fell on the way of Okoth in the 66th minute after finding himself in a one-on-one situation with Patrick Matasi.However, his poor decision making cost the team what would have been the opener as he opted to find Elvis Rupia who was unmarked but the retreating Robert Mudenyu cleared the ball to safety.Okoth, paid for the missed chance as he was hauled off three minutes later and at the same time, Leopards also threw in some fresh legs in a bid to poke holes in the Police defence.Ojo Olaniyi nearly put Ingwe in the driving seat in the 82nd minute after flicking a freekick delivered by Erick Mbithi but the woodwork came to the rescue of Police as Matasi was well beaten.The search for the match winning goal continued but none of the teams was ready to cede ground.Kenya Police Starting XI: Patrick Matasi, Erick Juma, David Owino, Musa Mohamed, Harun Shakava,Charles Ouma (David Simiyu 90), Lesley Owino (Duke Abuya 58), David Okoth (Clifton Miheso 70), Elvis Rupia, Alvin Mang’eni, Francis Kahata (Marvin Nabwire 70)Unused substitutes Job Ochieng, Yusuf Mainge,Soita Silicho,Abud Omar, David Ochieng,Daniel Musamali,AFC Leopards Starting XI: Levis Opiyo, Boniface Mukhekhe (Peter Thiong’o 63),Robert Mudenyu, Erick Mbithi, Tedian Esilaba (Collins Shivachi 18), Musa Oundo, Giovanni Lukhumwa,Brian Wanyama (Maxwell Otieno 84), Eugene Mukangula (Ojo Olaniyi 63), Jaffari OwitiUnused substitutes Maxwell Mulili, Saad Musa, Dan Sunguti, Zachary Njite
