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Tusker FC are a heartbeat away from clinching the 2020/21 Football Kenya Federation Premier League title despite being held to a barren draw by Nzoia Sugar at Sudi Stadium in Bungoma yesterday.

 The result effectively means that the bottlers, who have 62 points, will only need a draw in their final match against Bidco United on August 28 to win the title which they last laid their hands on in 2016.

That is regardless of the result of their closest challengers KCB, who shall meet Nairobi City Stars on Sunday to conclude the season.

Looking at the statistics, the ceiling of KCB in the league is 62 points and assuming that Tusker falters against Bidco, the Bankers will need to win their remaining fixture by many goals to be crowned champions for the first time since the team’s formation.

KCB seemed destined to take the league down to the wire but allowed AFC Leopards to notch in the equaliser almost at the death at Thika Stadium yesterday in a 1-1 draw that jolted their title chances.

In Bungoma, Tusker heaved and puffed for a vital win which never came but head coach Robert Matano was nonetheless content with the input of his charges and especially given that they were playing in a dreary hunting ground.

“The league is at a crucial stage and you need total concentration to win matches.

Of course, we do not need to do extraordinary things to win the title as the players have demonstrated that it can be done with mere concentration on the pitch. We missed chances but I’m satisfied with the result,” offered Matano.

He added: “This is an ambition I want to achieve on a personal level, but remember, there is still a match to go which is why we should remain focused. It is still premature to open the champagne bottle to celebrate.”

As Tusker were sniffing the title, KCB came too near yet so far in challenging for it after losing their poise against Leopards towards the end thus giving leeway to the Big Cats to make a jaw-dropping comeback,  Elvis Rupia finding an opening to find the back of the net with  a blockbuster.

KCB were dominant in the first half and it was least surprising when Samuel Mwangi drove them into the lead in the 23rd minute after sneaking in the blind side of Leopards defenders.

Elsewhere in Wundanyi, Sofapaka came from a goal down to salvage a 2-2 draw with Bandari.

The Dockers were all over Bandari early in the match with Batoto ba Mubgu yielding to pressure when Ro Okal scored an own goal.

Unperturbed, Sofapaka launched raids of their own which resulted in Lawrence Juma scoring from the penalty spot before Joe Waithera added the second goal.

In Ruaraka, Gor Mahia needed Samuel Onyango’s strike to silence Posta Rangers 1-0.