Fortune favours the brave as Gor book final date with Sony
Sofapaka defender Collins Shivachi (left) vies with Sony Sugar's Ugandan midfielder Robert Omonuk during the second leg of their Kenyan Premier League Top 8 match at the Nyayo National Stadium on November 4, 2015. Sony won 3-1. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |
What you need to know:
- Kisumu’s Moi Stadium all set for tomorrow’s ultimate showdown
- K’Ogalo rally from a goal down to floor Tusker in nervy semi-final at Nyayo
Gor Mahia supporters embarked on their trademark celebrations for almost an hour moments after their team eliminated holders Tusker 4-3 on aggregate in the Kenyan Premier League Top 8 semi-final on Wednesday night.
Two days after lifting the Kenyan Premier League title without losing a match, the ‘Green Army’ had witnessed their side commandeer a come-from-behind 2-1 win over one the brewers.
The otherwise entertaining contest was however overshadowed by controversial calls by centre referee Amos Ichingwa among them a red card awarded to Tusker forward Clifford Alwanga.
Speaking after the match, Tusker’s stand-in coach Leonard Odipo - whose team took a 10th-minute lead through Kevin Kimani - described the sending off as an “unfortunate incident that changed the game.”
“We started very well and had taken command of the proceedings before that red card came from nowhere. Thereafter we couldn’t contain them,” Odipo moaned.
Kenya’s lead striker Michael Olunga, who scored a brace, was however forced to share the headlines with Ichingwa, who has since been a subject of discussion on various social media platforms.
REMAINED UNFAZED
However, Ichingwa remained unfazed in an interview with Daily Nation Sport on Thursday, saying that the decision was for an elbow the player aimed at Khalid Aucho’s head moments later.
He said: “Fans can complain for months about refereeing decisions but referees don’t have a platform to complain. I have less than three seconds to see, decide and make a decision. No replay. I am satisfied with most of the decisions I made.”
The invincibles will now face Sony Sugar - who handed Sofapaka a 5-3 aggregate defeat in the other semi-final match - in the final set for the Moi Stadium in Kisumu tomorrow in what is expected to be an explosive contest.
“We have worked so hard to get to the final. Against Gor Mahia, there is a lot of intimidation from the fans and very little margin of error,” Sony’s Justin Monda, who scored the first goal against Sofapaka in the team’s 3-1 win said.
