Gor Mahia’s disastrous CAF cup campaign has come to an end. They were beaten 5-1 by RS Berkane. The Moroccans applied a pressing game knowing that the fatigued Kogalo players were not capable of responding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additional Reporting from Citizen Sports<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The host took control of the first half that saw Gor captain Harun \nShakava become a casualty at the defence leading to the Moroccans goals \nthat were netted by Kodjo Fo-Dohlaba, skipper Mohammed Aziz and Bakre El\n Helali.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lawrence Juma hit the target for Gor to see the opening half end 3-1 and 5-1 on aggregate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There were fears that K\u2019Ogalo<\/em><\/strong> could result \nto fielding only eight players after the second batch of players that \nconsisted of most starting X1 led by attacking midfielder Francis \nKahata, delayed on the day of the game after a six hour drive from the \nMoroccan capital to the venue, but they managed to arrive less that an \nhour to kick-off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Playing at home and knowing their opponents Gor had no time to shake \noff jet lag, Berkane surged forward from the whistle with winger \nHamdiLaachir and Samir Ouidare posing danger and giving the Gor \nback-line of Geoffrey Ochieng, Shakava, Joah Onyango and Philemon Otieno\n a hard time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Berkane could have gone ahead 10 minutes after kick-off if Ouidare\u2019s bicycle-kick had found the target. Gor reached the opponent\u2019s territory for the first time in the 18th minute when Kahata\u2019s pin-point free kick was headed away by Berkane defender Issoufou Dayo for a fruitless corner<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the 21st minute, Gor felt the heat to concede the opener after \nShakava poorly cleared a cross that was swung from the right to land on \nFo-Dohlaba who easily beat Gor custodian Fredrick Odhiambo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Berkane could have made it two, after three minutes if Laachir had found the target with his header from a Fo-Dohlaba cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other end, Gor pulled one back from Lawrence Juma who utilized\n Philemon Otieno\u2019s cross from the right flank to beat the sloppy Berkane\n defence and bring K\u2019Ogalo<\/strong> <\/em>back in the game as the score read 3-1 on aggregate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gor survived in the 27th minute when Joash Onyango feebly cleared the\n danger that fall on Laachir who saw his shot deflected for a fruitless \ncorner by Shakava.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Berkane could have been four goals up if they had not fluffed their glorious chances, this time seeing Fo-Dohlaba miss a clear sitter from close range after Laachir had brought in the cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, they made the amends at the half hour mark when Aziz rose \nhigh to powerfully connect a free header from a corner that was conceded\n by Shakava and restore Berkane\u2019s three goals aggregate lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seven minutes later, Gor found themselves on the receiving end again \nthis time seeing Bakre El Helali strike easily by showing composure to \npick the spot after Shakava failed to stop him as other defenders gave \nhim space to shoot at the far right side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gor head coach Hassan Oktay pulled out Shakava for Boniface Omondi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On return for the last half, Gor could not get any better as Berkane \nadded the fourth goal through defender Issoufou Dayo who scored from a \nfree header after Laachir swung in a corner conceded by Boniface Omondi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n K\u2019Ogalo\u2019s poor defence on set-pieces was evident after substitute \nYoussef Essaiyoy headed the ball home from a corner in the dying minutes\n as the Gor defence watched the ball roll in the net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gor will now turn their attention on defending the Kenyan Premier \nLeague title where the sit pretty at the top on 44 points with four \ngames in hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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