- Gor scored three first half goals
- Benson Omalla scored his 10th goal of the season
- They play AFC Leopards in the Mashemeji Derby on Sunday
Gor Mahia perfectly warmed up for Sunday’s Mashemeji Derby with a 3-0 victory over FC Talanta on Wednesday, with a high-speed first half performance. Joshua Onyango, Benson Omalla and John Macharia all banged in first half goals as the 19-time Premier League champions sent a statement of intent.
Coach Jonathan McKinstry was impressed with the performance of his players and says it sets them up nicely for Sunday.
“I told the guys before the game that we needed to get the game done in the first half and at least get the benefit of resting some players in the second half. I felt we really did well but in the second half we went off a bit and started playing long balls. But overall, I think we did well and we played really decent football,” said the tactician.
His opposite number Ken Kenyatta rued an early disallowed goal and the effects of fatigue.
“We have been playing matches every three days the whole of this month and it has become really hectic for us. The fatigue is visible in the players and that is why our energies really dropped,” said coach Kenyatta.
Talanta thought they had scored the opening goal inside the first minute when Barrak Odhiambo tapped into an empty net after the Gor keeper had punched the ball against the bar, but the ref whistled for a handball by Brian Yakhama prior.
Onyango open the scoring for Gor
Action between Gor Mahia and FC Talanta
Seven minutes on the turn, Gor opened the scoring when defender Onyango thumped in a header at the backpost from a Peter Lwasa corner. The Talanta backline was guilty of ball watching as Onyango strode unmarked behind.
Gor doubled their lead in the 18th minute off a textbook counter attack, with Omalla scoring his 10th goal of the season. The goal poacher raced onto a long ball from defense off a well defended corner kick before shooting low past the keeper.
It was a perfect start for Gor and a forgettable experience for Talanta. They were forced to make an early change with coach Kenyatta pulling out Angal Rodgers and replaced by December Kisaka after just 25 minutes.
Talanta tried to build some confidence, but they couldn’t break through the Gor backline.
They were undone at the stroke of halftime when Macharia added the third with a strong shot from inside the box after a cutback from left back Geoffrey Ochieng.
Beautiful team play from Gor Mahia
John Macharia celebrates his goal
The goal was the product of a beautiful team play from Jonathan McKinstry’s side, the ball exchanging feet nicely from the back before Ochieng slashed in the cross.
At the start of the second half, Kenyatta made a triple save to try salvage something from the match with Erick Shikono, Alex Luganji and Ian Omondi hauled off for Alvin Ochieng, Castro Ogendo and Alphric Omondi.
They started off well, pushing Gor in their own half for a few minutes, but never landing the ball on target.
On the other end, Omalla almost scored his second, but a header from a Macharia cross bounced inches wide off target.
With an almost assured victory and a three-goal cushion, McKinstry had the pleasure of changing his personnel, Ochieng coming off for Philemon Otieno while Dennis Ng’ang’a was also rested for Sydney Ochieng, probably with the derby on his mind.
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