Gor Mahia 1-0 Kakamega Homeboyz: Kagere strike lifts K'Ogalo to the league summit
Gor Mahia's Rwandan striker Meddie Kagere (right) leads teammate Jacques Tuyisenge in celebration after scoring during their SportPesa Premier League match against Kakamega Homeboyz at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on April 8, 2017. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH |
What you need to know:
- Veteran Rwandan forward Meddie Kagere struck late on after latching onto a fine pass from defender Karim Nizigiyimana to ensure K’Ogalo assume league leadership, two points ahead of second placed AFC Leopards who play Chemelil Sugar on Sunday in Kisumu.
Gor Mahia on Saturday returned to the top of the SportPesa Premier League table with 1-0 win over Kakamega Homeboyz in their fourth match played at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru.
At the same grounds, debutants Nakumatt held Sony Sugar to a goalless draw as Muhoroni Youth and 2009 champions Mathare United recorded a similar result in Muhoroni. Homeboyz frustrated the attack-minded K’Ogalo, who opened the match on the offensive and displayed urgency from the onset.
Rwandan striker Jacques Tuyisenge had a brilliant afternoon and should have given the former champions their opening goal in the 12th minute but his glancing header was saved by goalkeeper Michael Wanyika.
After a barren first half, it is Gor who returned with more determination, and they pressed for an opener only to be severely deterred by the tough Homeboyz defence.
However, the Homeboyz defence finally cracked in the 66th minute, when speedy striker Nizigiyimana Karim raced with the ball on the right flank and floated a well-weighted cross that was firmly swept into the net by second-half substitute Medie Kagere, who came in for George Odhiambo to set Afraha Stadium ablaze as K’Ogalo fans went wild with jubilation.
“Today we came with one set mind, to win the match and restore our hope of winning the title after losing 2-1 to Western Stima the previous weekend,” said Gor coach Marcelo Ferraira.
In the earlier match, Nakumatt squandered a second-half penalty to lose to Sony.
A quarter of an hour into the second half, a Sony defender handled the ball inside the danger zone as pressure mounted. Former Tusker and Chemelil Sugar forward Joshua Oyoo took the resultant penalty but sent it too high.
On Sunday, second-placed AFC Leopards play guests to Chemelil in Kisumu hoping to maintain their blameless record in the season so far.
Stewart Hall is just six months into the job as Leopards coach but the turnaround he is engineered at Ingwe has been nothing short of impressive.
Chemelil have won only once in three games — 2-0 over Sony on the season’s opening day, for which no positive follow-up has been forthcoming.
SATURDAY'S RESULTS
Gor Mahia 1-0 Kakamega Homeboyz
Nakumatt 0-0 Muhoroni Youth
Mathare 0-0 Muhoroni
