Jang'ombe Boys 0-2 Gor Mahia: Meddie Kagere brace sends K'Ogalo into semis

Gor Mahia's Ugandan-born Rwandan striker Meddie Kagere celebrates after scoring their first goal during their SPortPesa Super Cup quarter-final match against Jang'ombe Boys of Zanzibar on June 6, 2017 at Uhuru Stadium, Dar es Salaam. PHOTO | VINCENT OPIYO |

What you need to know:

  • The win assured the Kenyan giants of a place in the competition’s last four.

IN DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA

Ugandan-born Rwandan striker Meddie Kagere struck twice on Tuesday as Gor Mahia beat Zanzibar side Jang’ombe Boys 2-0 at Uhuru Stadium, Dar es Salaam to advance to the SportPesa Super Cup semi-finals.

The win assured the Kenyan giants of a place in the competition’s last four, where they will meet the winner between Simba SC and Nakuru AllStars who face-off in the second match on Tuesday evening.

After a goal-less first half which had seen Gor miss a host of chances to open the scoring, Kagere broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute after heading home Kenneth Muguna’s well taken cross from the right flank.

Kagere then completed his brace with seven minutes to go after converting a penalty following a handball in the box.

Gor Mahia's Ugandan-born Rwandan striker Meddie Kagere celebrates after scoring their first goal during their SPortPesa Super Cup quarter-final match against Jang'ombe Boys of Zanzibar on June 6, 2017 at Uhuru Stadium, Dar es Salaam. PHOTO | VINCENT OPIYO |

Gor Mahia's Ugandan-born Rwandan striker Meddie Kagere (left) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal during their SportPesa Super Cup quarter-final match against Jang'ombe Boys of Zanzibar on June 6, 2017 at Uhuru Stadium, Dar es Salaam. PHOTO | VINCENT OPIYO |

“We controlled the tempo very well, contained them whenever necessary. We always play for a win. We shift focus to the semi-final fixture,” Gor assistant coach Zedekiah Otieno, who is holding brief for holidaying head coach Jose Marcelo Ferreira, told Nation Sport after the match.

His opposite number Abdallah Yussuf said they will take the lessons from the defeat.

“We take the loss positively. It’s a game of football and you expect a win, draw or defeat. We however pick the positives from playing a team of Gor Mahia’s calibre,” Yussuf said.

The Zanzibar side started brightly and could have taken the lead in the fourth minute but Haron Shakava’s timely block denied Ali Abdul who had been released by Maundu Issa.

Gor started to assert themselves in the match with Innocent Wafula going close after he was set through by Francis Kahata in the 11th minute but Jang’ombe goalkeeper Ruga Hasham saved.

Gor Mahia's Innocent Wafula (left) vies for the ball with Jang'ombe Boys' Said Ibrahim during their SportPesa Super Cup quarter-final match on June 6, 2017 at Uhuru Stadium, Dar es Salaam. PHOTO | VINCENT OPIYO |

Muguna combined well with Kagere outside the 18-yard box, before the Rwandan striker left Amoor Seif for dead with a clever turn but fluffed his lines in the 20th minute.

Gor Mahia's Kenyan midfielder Kenneth Muguna (right) and Jang'ombe Boys' Ali Abdul fight for the ball during their SportPesa Super Cup quarter-final match on June 6, 2017 at Uhuru Stadium, Dar es Salaam. PHOTO | VINCENT OPIYO |

With Simba SC fans behind Jang’ombe, Chandika Ibrahim and Abdi Abdi started to force their way back into dominance, with Kahata and Philemon Otieno now chasing shadows.

As the match approached the half-hour mark, the tenacious Issa, nicknamed Marcelo, charged down the left wing only to see his cross picked easily by Peter Odhiambo in Gor Mahia goal.

Zedekiah Otieno’s side intensified their attacks in the final ten minutes of the half with Muguna’s crispy passes in search of Timothy Otieno and Kagere threatening to unlock the Jang’ombe backline.

Gor returned hungry for the win and their handful fans in the stadium thought they had taken the lead at the hour mark only for Philemon Otieno to shoot over the bar after he was teed up by Timothy Otieno.

Three minutes later, they were not to be denied. Kagere headed past Hasham for the opener.

Kahata then latched onto a George Odhiambo pass while inside the area, chested it down before unleashing a left foot shot off the mark.

Jang’ombe conceded an 83rd minute penalty that Kagere did well to send Ruga the wrong side.