Gor Mahia edge AFC Leopards 1-0
Gor Mahia scored a crucial victory over arch rivals AFC Leopards at Kasarani on Sunday. Crucial because it keeps Gor Mahia’s march towards the 2019-2020 KPL title on course. And also crucial because a win over the arch rival is the most important victory of the season. The all important goal came via Boniface Omondi in the 27th minute.
Additional reporting from the Nation
Boniface Omondi scored the winner for K’Ogalo in the 27th minute to ensure the team completes a double over Ingwe having won the first leg encounter 4-1.
Gor Mahia has now beaten AFC Leopards 29 times in the league. With the win, the league champions stretch their lead at the top of the table to 54 points from 23 games, while AFC Leopards is sixth with 40 points, having played the same number of matches.
A Gor Mahia fan cheers his team during the
A Gor Mahia fan cheers his team during the Mashemeji Derby at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on March 8, 2020. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
Despite the win solidifying Gor Mahia’s lead at the top, coach Steven Pollack said the title race is far from over.
“One win doesn’t mean we have won the league. We still have more games left and have to work hard in the remaining games. However, I am very proud of my boys, they did well to contain the pressure especially in the second half,” he said after the match.
“AFC Leopards however have improved so much and I think their coach has done a good job – kudos to him. They fought hard especially in the second half and I am very happy to have won the game,” he added.
uizaIngwe coach Anthony Kimani rued his side’s missed chances.
“We missed a couple of very good chances in both halves, while Gor Mahia utilised one of theirs. However, I’m proud of my boys, they showed character and a good fighting spirit,” he said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, attending his first ever Kenyan Premier League match, waved at the cheering crowd as the referee blew the whistle to kick off the 88th ‘Mashemeji Derby’ He was accompanied by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, former Vice President Musalia Mudavadi and Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed.
AFC Leopards were evidently the better side from the onset and missed a couple of good goal scoring chances, Elvis Rupia was twice denied by Gor Mahia custodian Boniface Oluoch.
Gor Mahia grew in the game and got their first real chance in the 21st minute, captain Kenneth Muguna’s shot from outside the box flying just inches wide. Muguna was at if at again five minutes later with a clever header after a quick cross by Jackson Owusu, but Ingwe custodian Benjamin Ochan averted the danger.
K’Ogalo opened the scoring through Boniface Omondi in the 27th minute. He capitalised on a goalmouth melee after an inviting cross by Clifton Miheso to slot in.
Nicholas Kipkirui missed a seater just before the break, blasting his effort wide with just Ochan to beat as the game went to the break with Gor Mahia on the front foot.
On resumption, Ingwe brought in Boniface Mukhekhe for the ineffective Jaffary Odenyi. Ingwe won a free kick just outside the box in the 51st minute after Austine Odhiambo was fouled by Charles Momanyi, but Washington Munene’s resultant free kick was easily handled by Gor Mahia keeper Boniface Oluoch.
Clifton Miheso forced Benjamin Ochan to a finger tip save five minutes later as both sides continued their hunt for goals. Miheso was minutes later rested, former Ulinzi Stars forward Sammy Onyango taking his place.
Rupia missed a golden opportunity to equalise with only an empty net to tap in to after Boniface Mukhekhe released an inviting cut back into the box that found the Gor Mahia defenders napping.
Gor Mahia brought in Juma Balinya for Nicholas Kipkirui in the 70th minute as they continued to dominate the proceedings.
Two minutes later, Ingwe forward Vincent Oburu failed to connect to an in swinger by the impressive Mukhekhe. Oburu was then taken off, former Kariobangi Sharks and Vihiga United forward Francis Manoah taking his place.
With 10 minutes to go, Gor Mahia brought in Ernest Wendo to steady the ship in midfield, taking the place of goalscorer Boniface Omondi, who had put in a good shift by all standards.
AFC Leopards rested Saad Tsuma, bringing in former Nzoia Sugar forward Hansel Ochieng. Collins Shivachi cleared Juma Balinya’s shot from the line in the 83rd minute as Gor continued to press for a second goal.
Congratulations team kubwa, you have silenced all the noisy Ingwe supporters. Now they know football is played on the pitch and not on acres of newspapers and other media. True the opponent has improved a lot over the recent weeks but who cares, the three points and bragging rights reserved for kogalo.
One match at a time, and this perhaps is the toughest season since 2016, but I have confidence that the boys will deliver
Kogalo, Kwani you guys are beating us year in and out. Jameni
are you Benson Disi
@Gor Player, read your sentence, are you a Gor player or AFC Leopards player?
Congrats to the team. There are only two ways to be a GOR FAN…. To be a problem or to me a solution. To me anybody/group that consistently pays winning bonuses to the team at this bad time, is a group worth acres of coverage in this forum. If those here and those out there joins GMAF, we will even start paying part salary. Let’s sponsor our team and ashame the sponsors who ran away… Let them come begging to be part of the Great team… The onus is on us. Congrats Kogalo….
Hehe… Gor player has just sold himself out. I have always said it here, he is fake and idle. He is not a player either, just a waste of time!!
Back to more important matters…. To be honest today we were down. But it’s important to win ugly sometimes.
Kudos to the team and my man of the match was Jackson owusu. Tenacious, aggressive and hard, just what we need in midfield.
Congrats team. Keep it up
Give it to El Capitan, Kenneth Muguna, a tireless worker and organizer. No wonder the coach kept on pulling him aside for instructions. Happy that we did our talking on the pitch after Efusi had dominated acres of spaces both in the print and electronic Media. Proper analysis tomorrow. Congratulations Gor Mahia and we give all glory and honour to God.
My great friend Le Pastre, I still remember that you challenged me to ensure legalization and structures in the GMAF Direct project before you can join. I am pleased to inform you that everything is fine and the project is growing steadily in numbers and winning more hearts. What more can I say with a registered membership of 400 in 4 months?
You will be receiving my contributions very soon. Thank you my dear brothers for holding forte and keeping the ship afloat in the turbulent waters of no sponsor(s). God bless you all.
My great friend Le Pastre, I still remember that you challenged me to ensure legalization and structures in the GMAF Direct project before you can join. I am pleased to inform you that everything is fine and the project is growing steadily in numbers and winning more hearts. What more can I say with a registered membership of 400 in 4 months?
My great friend Le Pastre, I still remember that you challenged me to ensure legalization and structures in the GMAF Direct project before you can join. I am pleased to inform you that everything is fine and the project is growing steadily in numbers and winning more hearts. What more can I say with a registered membership of 400 in 4 months?
Congratulations my team. Keep it up
Thought Rupia had bragged how he was going to score a couple of goals following our leaky defence in the last 4 matches. Was well man marked.
Congratulations kogalo
That was a tough game and kudos to ingwe for exposing us but with the CAF experiences we know what counts, finally. The Arab teams always come here , play ugly but go away with the points. Nobody ever asks how they played but the results. The truth is that ingwe have improved and are enjoying their game while for us we still have resources issues, right back we still experiment with various players thanks to the injury to Wellington and Philemon. On the main striker we are still yet to get one, since Kirui is more of a winger. On the defensive mid at least Owusu held fort and fought like we expect one to fight at that position. Just noticed that Wendo has become heavy and slower, not good for him. As much as ingwe was so physical we hope that the injuries to most of our players will have healed by the next game
Congrats to the team. There are only two ways to be a GOR FAN…. To be a problem or to me a solution. To me anybody/group that consistently pays winning bonuses to the team at this bad time, is a group worth acres of coverage in this forum. If those here and those out there joins GMAF, we will even start paying part salary. Let’s sponsor our team and ashame the sponsors who ran away… Let them come begging to be part of the Great team… The onus is on us. Congrats Kogalo….
I second your posting. If we can continue registering more members in all categories, then the club will move from beggar to a lender to teams like Ingwe. If we can have 50,000 registered and committed members with highest category registering 5,000 members, next 8,000 members, next 15,000 members and last category with 22,000 members we can be able to raise Kshs.39.4 million on monthly basis (Annual subscriptions at the pessimistic can raise over Kshs.400 million).
This will pay salaries for both players and technical bench as well as CEO/secretariat team of the club that will be responsible for increasing the membership drive as well as distribution of the club merchandises. As a result, we can dream to have our own stadia, have a strong feeder team, clubhouse and training ground equipped with the latest gym equipments.
In this regard, let us spread the gospel and word to all our friends, family members, workmates, foreigners etc we can hit the target.
How can people in diaspora joing and contribute
how can unvirsties student and school student join the institution of GMF