Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) log leaders Kakamega Homeboyz have opened a five point gap at the summit after narrowly edging KCB 3-2 at the Kasarani Annex.Homeboyz laboured for the three points as they come from a goal down to register their ninth win of the season which will certainly go a long way in enhancing their chances of bagging their maiden league title.Full Time:Three massive points away from home KCB 2-3 Homeboyz Yema 40’Esiye 50’Yema 80’ pic.twitter.com/DtH47xo5o2— Kakamega Homeboyz FC (@FcHomeboyz) January 16, 2022 David Simiyu thought he had given KCB the lead in the second minute when he put the ball past the line but the offside flag came to the rescue of the visitors, cutting short the goal celebration by the hosts who had motored to the corner to execute the drill perfected in training. Stephen Opoku nearly fired Homeboyz ahead in the tenth when he dispossessed Rama Mwenda just outside the box but he shot directly to Gabriel Andika’s arms while under pressure from Nashon Alembi. KCB took the lead in the 13th minute through Baraka Badi who sent the ball into the net from the spot after the advancing Godfrey Oputi brought down Henry Onyango in the box. A defense splitting pass by Badi forced Oputi to come off his territory in a bid to block Onyango from pulling the trigger but the latter reacted quickly, touching the ball ahead of the custodian whose palms impeded him from shooting in the full glare of centre referee Yasin Badir. Homeboyz quickly summoned their energies and began whipping long balls to the KCB area that were met with equal force in a bid to level matters. Mwenda who was tasked in keeping close tabs with Yema Mwamba appeared to struggle in matching the pace of the Congolese who eventually plundered home the equalizer in the 40th minute after Moses Mudavadi put him through. Yema had come close in the 26th minute picking up the ball from the toes of David Okoth but was impeded from firing by Alembi who occasionally came to the rescue of his pair, Mwenda. Second half Five minutes into the second half, Estone Esiye served his former employer bitterness when he struck a freekick outside the box to double the lead for Homeboyz. The match was halted for close to nine minutes in starting from the 55th minute after Oputi collided with Reagan Otieno while in contention for the ball where the latter bore the brunt as he was escorted to the waiting ambulance for further medical attention. His place was taken by Elix Otieno. Zico made changes meant to unlock the Homeboyz defence in the 63rd minute where he brought in the trio of Mohamed Kilume, James Mazembe and Samuel Mwangi for Michael Mutinda, Henry and Reagan. Perhaps after realizing that the fresh legs had helped KCB eat into their dominance, Mwalala withdrew Sunday Mutuku and Esiye for George Odiwour and Ali Bhai in the 73rd minute. Mwamba would complete his brace in the 80th minute, tapping the ball into the net from a well worked counterattack that saw David Okoth square the ball on his way.The contest proved to far from over as Collins Odhiambo headed into his net with three minutes left on the clock to give KCB hopes of salvaging a point.KCB pushed hard for the equalizer inside the ten additional minutes but Homeboyz held on the slim advantage to scoop maximum points.KCB Starting XI: Gabriel Andika, Baraka Badi, Dennis Odhiambo, Nashon Alembi, Rama Mwenda, Michael Mutinda, Brian Ochieng, Simon Munala, Henry Onyango, Reagan Otieno, David Simiyu, Harun Thomas Substitutes: David Okello, James Mazembe, Derrick Otanga, Samuel Mwangi, Curtis Wekesa, Mohamed Kilume, Brian WepoHead coach: Zedekiah Otieno Kakamega Homeboyz XI: Godfrey Oputi, Sylvester Owino, Collins Odhiambo, Erick Ambunya, Brian Eshihanda, Estone Esiye, Sunday Mutuku, Moses Mudavadi, Stephen Opoku, David Okoth, Yema Mwamba. Substitutes: Elix Otieno, Stephen Wakanya, Michael Karamor, Ali Bhai, George Odiwour, Robert Arrot, Enock Masinza, David JumaHead coach: Bernard Mwalala
