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On Saturday, Gor Mahia gave up a two goal lead agains Tusker a Afraha stadium and ended up settling for a 2-2 draw in the KPL Top 8 first leg match. Frank Nuttall has praised his charges. He however noted that the playing surface a Afraha stadium was less than ideal for Gor Mahia’s style of\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 play.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am not happy with the way we threw away the two goal lead; it did not feel good at all. But we should also blame the pitch, its condition was not good and it could not allow us to play as we usually do.” said Nuttall to goal.com<\/p>\n
Teams like Tusker and Ulinzi that thrive on physical play and long balls are better suited to playing on uneven surfaces.<\/p>\n
Nuttall further indicated that due to injuries especially in defence, he has had to field players like Innocent Wafula and Eric Ochieng in unfamiliar defensive positions.<\/p>\n
“We had to do without several players, that is why some played in unfamiliar positions. It is however, done, and our focus now is on the second leg.\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n
With Tusker being the home team, the two goals Gor Mahia scored will count as away goals which will offer Gor Mahia an advantage. A draw of 1-1 or 0-0 will see them through to the final.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut two away goals is an advantage to us and we shall have to make sure we perform well in the return leg so that we can qualify,” he continued.<\/p>\n
On a positive note, Ali Hassan Abondo appears to have regained the form that saw him top the scorers charts in the first leg. In the las two games, he has scored 3 goals, created an assist and forced a penalty.<\/p>\n
Gor Mahia will take on Tusker in the return leg will be played in Nairobi on Wednesday 4 November.<\/p>\n