Gor Mahia stumble against KK Homeboyz

[faraja]

Report from MozzartBet

There was a moment the title looked safe in Gor Mahia's locker, then some mix of emotions when things looked dire, to the final moment, when K'Ogalo's hearts were broken.

Hillary Otieno, with literally the last kick of the game, drove in the final nail with a stunner, and a third goal for Homeboyz, as the less-talked about visitors beat Gor Mahia 3-2 at the Kasarani Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Against the backdrop of a section of the Gor Mahia support that was up on its feet for almost all minutes leading up to the game, it was the home side that laid bare their intent in this contest, springing their way to a rather porsche start.

Pass after pass, the composure of the team looking to win its 20th league title was breath-taking.

On the other side, Homeboyz, pinned in their half, had resulted to long kicks whenever they got possession.


It was from a quick move down the right that offered the moment of delight for the Green Army, as Austin Odhiambo lifted a cross to the box for Patrick Kaddu to sneak past Robinson Kamura before heading home - Shikhalo rooted to his spot.

The forward - this time engulfed by his teammates - couldn't hide his elation as he took a dance, then jogged past the Gor Mahia bench before making his way to the centre circle.

Gor Mahia, 12 minutes in, were in dreamland. If only they knew their title rivals Tusker had gone behind early thanks to a Jackson Dwang strike in the ninth minute.

The next few minutes were upto the leaders to hold their own, and that was the case as every player- most notably the hard grafter in Sydney Ochieng - threw their bodies in to calm the expected Homeboyz onslaught.

Kaddu almost caught Kamura slacking with the ball in the 38th minute, only for the Kenyan International to react and clear the danger.

Then came the moment when everything around the bouncing Kasarani Stadium went mute.

A rapid Homeboyz counter-attack in the 38th minute found recent Harambee Stars debutant Moses Shummah in a sea that only had a backtracking Sylvester Owino. His task was simple, and that was to play a simple ball to the overlapping Ambrose Sifuna behind him.

The former Sofapaka man wheeled on one one against Gad Matthews - delightfully toe-poking his ball over for the equalizer. The goal meant silence.

And even as Owino mistimed a ball that had Amwayi force Gad into a big save late in the half, one thing was clear. Gor Mahia needed to score again - for the atmosphere's sake.

Johnathan McKinstry threw his opening gambit at the break, bringing on Boniface Omondi to replace Peter Lwasa.

As they did in the first half, Gor Mahia broke to a quick start once again and with a sweeping move just two minutes after the restart, the trio of John Macharia, Patrick Kaddu and Austin Odhiambo combined, the latter lashing a powerfil shot past Shikhalo as he wheeled off to the supporters in celebration.

Back on top once again. The rousing atmosphere where it should have been.

Now another minutes for Gor Mahia to calm their nerves followed.

Hillary Otieno had one of his audacious shots go slightly over minutes after, as K'Ogalo surprisingly sat deep to protect their lead.

A long shot from John Otieno from the right cannoned off the bottom right post, and as everyone turned to spot the ball, one Kevin Amwayi was off in muted celebrations- just as the nature of the goal that saw him collect the rebound, smacking the ball past Gad to mean the inevitable.

Silence, disgust on the stands.

On to another decisive moment elsewhere, Tusker had equalized through Deogratious Ojok at Ruaraka and so we were back as we were.

McKinstry at the half-hour mark turned to his dependable striker - Benson Omala - to turn things around, and he almost did, hitting his ball across goal only for Eric Ambunya to stand in its way.

That was not the only time the Homeboyz defender was going to stand tall, as he cleared a deflected Bonface Omondi ball infront of the line in the 75th minute.

Nervousness creeped in the stands as the clock wound down, the only figure consistent here being goalkeeper Farouk Shikhalo as he held every looped cross that came in his direction.

Then the moment when everything went mad, Hillary Otieno, deep into four minutes of added time, scoring the third to win the game, ousting the fans in the wild wild fixture.

STARTING XI.

Gor Mahia.

Gad Matthews, Paul Ochuoga, Geoffrey Ochieng, Dennis Njire, Sylvester Owino, John Macharia, Shafik Kagimu, Patrick Kaddu, Austin Odhiambo, Peter Lwasa.

SUBSTITUTES: Caleb Otieno, Philemon Otieno, Bryson Wangai, Joshua Onyango, John Ochieng, Alpha Onyango, Benson Omala, Ernest Wendo.

Kakamega Homeboyz.

Farouk Shikhalo, Collins Odhiambo, Eric Ambunya, Robinson Kamura, John Otieno, Esiye Eston, Felicien Okanda, Hillary Otieno, Moses Shummah, Ambrose Sifuna, Kevin Amwayi.

SUBSTITUTES: Ibrahim Wanzala, Brian Wekesa, Michael Karamor, Christopher Masinza, Gospel Okoth, Benson Mutonyi, Gaetan Masha, Enock Agwanda, Brian Buleti.