On the double Gor Mahia send taxmen packing

Defending champions Gor Mahia Sunday stretched their unbeaten run to eight matches after dispatching Ushuru 2-0 in a thrilling match at Nyayo National Stadium.

At Thika County Stadium, Jackson Macharia’s first half goal was all the hosts Thika United needed to beat Nairobi City Stars and rise to second place on the 16-team log with 18 points.
Gor coach Frank Nuttall was ecstatic after the win, saying that it was the best performance his boys had put through yet this season.

“This has been the best performance I have seen from the boys. They have shown great character and I have no doubt that they have a very strong mentality. These are the kind of results that gives us more confidence going forward,” he said.

BOYCOTTED TRAINING

Gor Mahia players had boycotted training two days prior to this match demanding their salaries, and had even threatened to boycott the fixture. The club management however promised to settled their arrears this week.

Michael Olunga and Meddie Kagere scored their fourth and fifth goals of the season respectively as they condemned the taxmen to their season’s third loss.

K’Ogalo’s back line shutout Ushuru during the first half, as Geoffrey Walusimbi, Ali Abondo and Olunga sent threatening shots on the other end of the pitch.

Walusimbi almost got into the score sheets in the seventh minute but he failed to get to Abondo’s well executed pass.

Olunga and Aucho then engaged in a wonderful exchange at the quarter hour mark before the latter picked out Walusimbi with a nice shot that was cleared by the KRA defense.

The taxmen pressed the self-destruction button in the 35th minute when defender David Otieno directed a back heel pass towards his goalkeeper Samuel Odhiambo, but Olunga cut inside and picked the ball up before placing it behind the custodian for the opener.

And if Gor were fiery in the first half, they came back flaming hot in the second period, and it took only two minutes after the restart for Kagere to shake the net.

Olunga had produced a perfect cross from the left wing to Abondo who floated a long ball in-goal for Kagere to head home. Ushuru coach Ken Kenyatta’s decision to bring in Allan Katerrega and Roosevelt Blatty turned helpful for his club as they began to attack with more frequency afterwards.

Katerrega almost reduced the deficit in the 75th minute when he was clear on goal only to be ruled offside and no further efforts from his side threatened the scoreline.
The Ugandan together with Blatty forced some great goalkeeping from Boniface Oluoch towards the end of the match as the heavens opened.

K’Ogalo’s backline of Musa Mohammed and Karim Nzigiyimana stood firm to ensure the champions and table leaders walked away with their sixth win of the season.