- Gor Mahia beat City Stars 4-1 at Kasarani
- Second placed Tusker also won, but it was little too late
- This is K’Ogalo’s 20th league title
Gor Mahia clinched a record extending 20th FKF Premier League title after seeing off Nairobi City Stars 4-1 at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani on Sunday. The victory saw Gor finish the season with 70 points, two ahead of defending champions Tusker FC, who also won huge away to Vihiga Bullets.
Gor had to come from a goal down at Kasarani, Benson Omala, Peter Lwasa, Austin Odhiambo and Alpha Onyango scoring just after Samuel Kapen had given City Stars the lead.
Heading into the final round of matches on Sunday, Gor had destiny in their own hands and only needed to beat City Stars to secure the crown. But they had a jittery start with a goalless first half, with chances there but none to take them.
However, the second half started with fiery, but it was Gor who found themselves on the back foot after just three minutes. Kapen broke the deadlock when he ran behind the defense after beating the offside trap to beat Gad Mathews one on one.
With Tusker leading 2-0 miles away in Mumias against Vihiga Bullets, pressure was on Gor to win on their end and secure the title.
It took Gor less than five minutes to land a response with Omalla heading home his 26th goal of the season to level the scores. Ugandan Lwasa then made it 2-1 minutes later when he curled a left footer behind the keeper, to turn the stadium into pandemonium.
Gor stretched their lead
Gor Mahia players lift the title
While City Stars threatened to come back and spoil the party, Gor Mahia stretched their lead with 10 minutes to play through Odhiambo’s freekick before Alpha put the icing on the cake with a late fourth.
K’Ogalo have now made a return to continental football and will represent Kenya in next season’s CAF Champions League.
Meanwhile in Mumias, Tusker thrashed already relegated Vihiga Bullets 4-0 courtesy of a second half brace from Stewart Omondi.
The brewers broke the deadlock after just three minutes when Ugandan Deogratious Ojok netted his 11th goal of the season with a bullet header from Shami Mwinyi’s cross.
The brewers continued to dominate the game, though they had two scary moments when Vihiga had chances on the other end but didn’t convert.
They went to the break 2-0 up when Shami completed a very good half with a goal to his name, dinking the ball over the keeper after a good team move.
Tusker keep dominance in second half
Gor Mahia celebrates
In the second half, Tusker kept their dominance and Omondi who had come on as a substitute scored a quick brace in the last quarter of an hour, but it was too little effort too late as K’Ogalo were already cruising.
Tusker will now switch their attention to this Sunday’s FKF Cup final, where they play Kakamega Homeboyz, for a chance to redeem themselves with a trophy and qualify for continental football next season.
A win for Tusker in the Cup will earn them a ticket to next season’s CAF Confederation Cup, and this will be an extra motivation for Robert Matano and his charges.
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