Gor Mahia stunned by Nairobi Itd in FKF Cup Final

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Story from Flashscore

Former Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League champions Gor Mahia finished the 2024/25 season empty handed after they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat against newly promoted Nairobi United in the final of the domestic FKF Cup at Ulinzi Sports Complex on Sunday.

Having relinquished the Premier League title to Kenya Police FC, Gor Mahia knew the only way to play continental football was to win the domestic final. However, they found themselves trailing as early as the sixth minute when Frank Ouya scored, but they levelled matters in the 38th minute through Ben Stanley Omondi.

However, a superb effort from Enock Mashaka gave United a 2-1 lead in the 73rd minute, and despite Gor Mahia getting a chance to score from the penalty spot in the 87th minute, goalkeeper Ernest Mohammed dived the right way to deny Alpha Onyango.

Knowing what was at stake, Gor Mahia interim coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno went for the strongest side possible with Kevin Omondi getting the nod to start between the sticks while the defensive line revolved around Alphonse Omija, Joshua Onyango, Sylvester Owino, and Bryton Onyona.

Ben Stanley Omondi, Alpha Onyango, and Austin Odhiambo took up the midfield role while Ghanaian import Enoch Morrison and Musa Shariff played behind lead striker Benson Omalla.

However, it was Nairobi United under former Harambee Stars midfielder Nicholas Muyoti, who looked the better side from the opening exchanges, and they stunned the record Kenyan champions with an early goal in the sixth minute.
United stun Gor Mahia with early lead

A mix-up in K’Ogalo’s danger zone allowed striker Frank Ouya to steal the ball and place it past the stretching hands of Kevin Omondi. Nairobi United should have doubled their lead in the 15th minute when Isaac Omweri found himself unmarked, but his feeble effort could not trouble Omondi.

Gor Mahia started to come into the game, and in the 20th minute, the former league champions almost levelled matters when Austin Odhiambo picked out Omija with a looped cross, but the latter took time to aim at goal, allowing a Nairobi United defender to clear the danger.

But Gor Mahia’s relentless attacks paid off in the 38th minute when Ben Stanley Omondi cancelled out Nairobi United's opener. A move initiated by Odhiambo found Morrison in the right wing, and his attempted cross into the area deflected off a Nairobi United defender.

The ball found Omondi, who powered home a right-footed effort past custodian Ernest Mohammed. The game remained balanced from there on as the two sides went into the half-time break tied 1-1.

Unlike the first half, where Nairobi United started strongly, the second period belonged to Gor Mahia, who went on the attack for the second goal from the onset. Austin Odhiambo, who was captaining K’Ogalo in the absence of defender Philemon Otieno, who was on the bench, tested Mohammed with a long-range effort before Morrison’s effort produced a throw-in.
Nairobi United stunned Gor Mahia
Nairobi United stunned Gor MahiaNairobi United Media

Nairobi United responded with a move initiated by Bernard Ouma, and after going past three Gor Mahia defenders, he spotted Ouya, who was unmarked, but his attempted cross was cut off by Sylvester Owino, and he could not reach his target.

In the 55th minute, Isaac Omweri delivered a cross from the right wing and Duncan Omalla, younger brother to Gor Mahia striker Benson Omalla, rose highest to head home, but K’Ogalo keeper Omondi did well to clear the effort, which was on target.

K’Ogalo coach Otieno went for a double change in a bid to freshen up his squad, Shariff Musa and goal scorer Stanley Omondi coming out for Ugandan striker Charles Bbaale and Bryson Wangai, while Nairobi United rested goal scorer Ouya for Michael Karamo.

Gor Mahia’s double change almost produced a goal when Wangai weaved past Nairobi United defenders, but his left-footed effort went over the bar. After United’s missed opportunity, K’Ogalo made another change, Morrison being rested for Lawrence Juma.

With Gor Mahia pressing for the second, it was Nairobi United, who, instead, went 2-1 up in the 73rd minute. A quickly taken goal-kick from goalkeeper Mohammed found Karamo, who in turn fed it to Mashaka. The former Bandari striker spotted Gor Mahia keeper Omondi out of his line and he unleashed a thunderous shot from outside the 18-yard area, which hit the bottom right corner of the net.

Five minutes later, Gor Mahia thought they had levelled the scores yet again when Omalla slotted home with his right foot but his effort was ruled out for offside. On the other side, Nairobi United found the back of the net through Karamo’s diving header but his effort was also ruled out for offside.

Gor Mahia were presented with a good opportunity to level matters in the 87th minute and take the game to extra time after they were awarded a penalty. However, Alpha Onyango’s weak effort from the resultant kick was punched out by Mohammed to keep alive Nairobi United’s hopes of winning their first-ever major title.

United resorted to playing a defensive game in the added four minutes, and the final whistle ble,w handing them the trophy and a ticket to represent the country in the CAF Confederation Cup. Police, who won the league, will go for the Champions League.

Nairobi United also emulated Mathare United, who in 1998 won the Moi Golden Cup as a second-tier team and earned promotion to the top tier in the same season.
How did Gor Mahia and Nairobi United reach final?

Gor Mahia’s road to the final was dominant. They kicked off their campaign with a 3-0 win over KSG in the Round of 64, followed by a 5-0 victory against GAS FC in the Round of 32. They then dispatched fellow Premier League side Bandari FC 2-0 in the Round of 16 and beat Kariobangi Sharks by the same scoreline in the quarter-finals.

In the semi-finals, Gor Mahia faced a stern test against Murang’a Seal, playing out a 2-2 draw in regulation time before edging the tie 5-3 in penalty shootouts.

Meanwhile, Nairobi United enjoyed a fairytale run in this year’s competition. Their journey began in the Round of 64 with a 3-1 win over Global Connection, before entering a giant-killing run.

They eliminated Tusker FC in the Round of 32, holding the Brewers to a 1-1 draw before winning 5-4 in a penalty shootout. In the Round of 16, they repeated the feat, edging out KCB 6-5 on penalties after a 0-0 draw.

The quarter-finals saw Nairobi United, nicknamed ‘Naibois’, dominate former Cup winners Kakamega Homeboyz with a commanding 2-0 win. In the semi-finals, they faced a resilient Mara Sugar side, drawing 1-1 in regular time before triumphing 3-1 in yet another penalty shootout.