Nzoia Sugar earned a priceless point after coming from two goals down to hold KCB FC to a 2-2 draw in an entertaining Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) match played at the Utalii grounds on Thursday afternoon. The bankers were seeking to move to a point within the reach of league leaders Kakamega Homeboyz but shot themselves on the feet after squandering a two goal advantage to share spoils.Match gallery. KCB vs Nzoia Sugar FC. #sweeteningkenyanfootball. pic.twitter.com/IZ2mrtIxtb— NZOIASUGARFC (@nzoiasugarfc2) December 30, 2021 The void left by Ibrahim Shikanda in the technical bench was there for all to see as Nzoia lacked strategy and neither of his backroom staff who were present rose to give instructions. Nzoia goalkeeper Benson Mangala was the busiest player for the better part of the opening half, pulling spectacular saves to keep his side in the game. The former Vihiga United custodian denied Henry Juma twice from close range inside the first ten minutes with his leadership also coming in handy as he read KCB’s moves and instructed his wall accordingly. The match was halted for close to two minutes after Mangala collided with the goal hungry Juma in the 18th minute but the two were cleared to carry on after being attended by the medics.Mangala fell from first half hero to zero in the 31st minute when his poor clearance fell in Derrick Otanga’s way leaving the latter who had no one to challenge him to casually jog with the ball past the line to give KCB the lead. Second half Before the second half began, Nzoia added firepower to their blunt forward line with James Kibande and Brian Wekesa paving way for Elisha Wekesa and Hassan Beja respectively. KCB picked from where they left in the first half, throwing everything in Nzoia’s goal in search for the second goal. Their efforts paid off in the 54th minute when Dennis Odhiambo poked home the ball from close range after the defence failed to deal with Nashon Alembi’s hard drilled shot. While KCB players converged at the corner to celebrate the goal, their Nzoia counterparts protested to the centre referee claiming that ball had been deflated by the time Alembi whipped in the cross. ##EDITORS_CHOICE##Zico made his first change in the 64th minute, bringing in the duo of Samuel Mwangi and Michael Oduor for Munala and Juma respectively. The fresh legs were meant to inspire the bankers to their third goal but hardly three minutes after coming on, Nzoia halved the deficit after Kevin Juma headed home a cross by Wekesa. Nzoia would level matters in the 86th minute through Boniface Kweyu who fired past Gabriel Andika from the spot after a defender handled in the box. KCB Starting XI: Gabriel Andika, Baraka Badi, Dennis Odhiambo, Robinson Kamura, Nashon Alembi, Michael Mutinda, Brian Ochieng, Simon Munala, James Mazembe, Henry Onyango, Derrick OtangaSubstitutes: David Okello, Rama Mwenda, David Owino, Samuel Mwangi, Reagan Otieno, Michael Oduor, Victor OmondiHead coach: Zedekiah Otieno Nzoia Sugar Starting XI: Benson Mangala, Randy Bakari, Vincent Mahiga, Kevin Maliachi, Emmanuel Esekon, Kevin Juma, Boniface Kweyu, Elisha Wekesa, Hassan Beja, Titus Kapchanga, Joseph MwangiSubstitutes: Humphrey Katasi, James Kibande, Collins Wakhungu, Ian Simiyu, Ken Wasike, Barasa Mohammed, Brian Wekesa
