- Gor beat Tusker FC 1-0
- They moved 10 points clear top of the log
- City Stars were beaten 1-0 by AFC Leopards
Gor Mahia head coach Jonathan McKinstry is delighted after his side beat one of their closest title rivals, Tusker FC. K’Ogalo edged out the Brewers by a solitary goal to extend their unbeaten run, as well as their lead on top of the FKF Premier League standings to 10 points.
Second placed Nairobi Cuty Stars lost 2-0 to AFC Leopards in the other league fixture to ensure Gor have a massive gap on top. Tusker, who dropped to fourth after Posta rangers beat Murang’a Seal 1-0, are now 12 points behind leaders Gor.
“It was a really good performance from us. I think we did very well to neutralize all aspects of Tusker’s attack and it is always important to win against your direct title rivals. I believe we are now with a good gap and 10 points honestly eases a lot of pressure,” McKinstry said.
He adds; “But we cannot afford to rest on our laurels because this is football and anything can happen. We still have 15 matches left before the season ends and we should not let our guards down,” the coach noted.
Meanwhile, Tusker’s Robert Matano says his team will not lose hope, despite a massive 12 point gap with K’Ogalo.
Gor defeat a painful one, says Tusker coach
Gor Mahia’s Chris Ochieng tries to move past Tusker’s Fabian Adikiny.
“It was a really painful defeat because we wanted to win and reduce that gap to six points. But we will keep on fighting. Anything is possible in football,” the veteran tactician said.
Austin Odhiambo scored the lone goal for K’Ogalo, a well executed freekick from 20 yards out. Odhiambo was fouled by Chris Erambo and took responsibility on his own shoulder, curling the ball over the wall and beating keeper Brian Bwire.
Just before conceding, Tusker had a glorious chance to break the deadlock. Eric Kapaito had done well on the right to cut in a cross into the box, but Levin Odhiambo couldn’t execute a proper shot on target.
Gor had two more close chances, first Austin trying his luck with another freekick which was well saved by Bwire, before Benson Omalla struck a snap shot inches wide from the edge of the area.
Tusker had some good chances at goal too, Tom Teka connecting just wide from a Mike Oduor corner, before the latter forced Kevin Omondi in Gor Mahia’s goal to a brilliant full stretch save off a smarlty executed volley.
In the second half, Tusker pumped in the pressure, seeking to get back into the game. Skipper Mike Kibwage had to chances from corners, his first effort on the volley being deflected inches over the bar while the second effort from a corner was a header which glanced just wide off target.
In the 63rd minute, they were inches close to getting back on level terms when Levin’s cross from the left rolled across the face of goal, inches from the net, just begging a touch to direct it home.
Tusker made changes in attack, brining on the burly Ibrahim Joshua to spice up the attack. Joshua came close to levelling for Tusker in the 74th minute when he stole the ball off Ernest Wendo, but his rasping shot flew inches off target.
He had another chance, trying an acrobatic kick from inside the box off a corner, but he couldn’t quite catch the ball well.
Brewers decry late penalty
Gor Mahia players tackle Tusker’s Collins Otieno
The brewers thought they should have had a penalty eight minutes to rime when Kennedy Onyango handled the ball as he tried to block a shot from Joshua, but the referee had none of it.
The brewers’ efforts were doubled but were not lucky to get back into contention.
Meanwhile, City Stars remained second in the standings, but their seven-match winning run was brought to a screeching halt by the on form AFC Leopards.
Maxwell Otieno and Kevin Kimani scored the goals for Leopards, who picked their fourth win in five matches to move to 10th in the FKF Premier League standings.
Otieno scored his first of the season with a nifty touch inside the box, beating the City Stars keeper to the ball from a cross on the left.
Kimani then scored the second for Ingwe minutes later, the goal also coming off a cross on the left. Kimani met the ball unmarked inside the box before connecting sweetly to a volley.
Head coach Tomas Trucha was delighted with the win. “We have been improving game by game and we could see it from how we played against a tough City Stars side. I am really impressed with the fighting spirit shown by my players,” the coach noted.
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