Gor Mahia edge Sofapaka 2-1

Gor Mahia rocketed back to the top of the standings with a 2-1 win over Sofapaka at Kisumu stadium on Wednesday.

Additional reporting from soka.co.ke

Gor Mahia FC were 2-1 winners over Sofapaka FC in a rescheduled Kenyan Premier League (KPL) match played at the Moi Stadium from 4 pm, a result that takes them back to the summit of the KPL table standings from 17 matches.

Getting their goals through midfielders Lawrence Juma and Kenneth Muguna, Gor thwarted any attempt at a comeback even with Jaden Nana getting one for Sofapaka.

Gor Mahia started strongly in the match, with two clear chances in the opening ten minutes. Boniface Omondi and Clifton Miheso had their efforts on target but had the defensive efforts of Willis Ouma deny them an early lead.

In the 12th minute, however, the hosts would go up. Lawrence Juma was primely positioned for a Boniface Omondi pass and this he buried. As expected, this rattled Batoto Ba Mungu, and their fightback began immediately. Jaden Nana would be the one to restore parity 6 minutes after Gor’s opener. Clearing up the mess from Kepha Aswani’s initial shot, Nana made no mistake making it 1-1.

The two teams would go into the break tied.

Skippering Sofapaka on the day, Elli Asieche wanted his presence felt and had a spirited chase for Sofa’s second three minutes after the resumption but David Mapigano in goal for Gor Mahia could hear none of it.

The first change of the tie would come in the 55th minute when left-back Thomas Wainaina was rested for striker Collins Wakhungu. Sofapaka clearly wanted all the spoils. The tide was to swing in Gor’s favour however when in the 63rd minute, Kenneth Muguna struck after being set-up by Samuel Onyango.

Brian Nyakan was Sofa’s second roll of the dice and he took David Simiyu’s place.

With four minutes of regular time left, Nyakan rose to meet Titus Achesa’s cross and heading it home, found Mapigano astute in between the sticks. The Gor Mahia keeper had closed shop and no more goals would be scored in the tie.

The champions kept their 2-1 lead till full time, a result that takes them back to the top of the Kenyan Premier League table.