Abondo and Keli on the mark as rivals Gor, Leopards cancel out
Michael Olunga (right) of Gor Mahia tussles with AFC Leopards’ Jackson Saleh (centre) and Bernard Mangoli during their derby match at Nyayo Stadium on April 12, 2015. Olunga says he believes in miracles as Kenya Under-23 face a must-win-by-four-clear-goals mission against Botswana in their Olympic qualifier return match today from 4pm at Nyayo Stadium. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |
What you need to know:
- Ingwe end K’Ogalo’s 100 percent record in tightly contested, well-attended affair at Nyayo Stadium.
- Baraza brace helps Sofapaka see off Nakuru at Afraha.
Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards shared the spoils after their high octane first leg Mashemeji Derby played under a charged atmosphere at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Sunday ended 1-1.
The outcome hauled Gor’s points tally to 13 at the summit of the table from five matches while Leopards are ninth after six games.
The contest lived up to its top billing as thousands of fans thronged the 30,000-capacity stadium to cheer their beloved teams and the boys paid back in kind, playing some tantalising football. The scoreline was fair result.
Gor, the away team, and pre-match favourites, took a 35th minute lead through in form forward Ali “Teargas” Abondo, who shook the net with a deft right foot shot to beat Leopards’ goalkeeper Wycliffe Kasaya.
It was Abondo’s fifth goal in the league and eighth in all competitions.
In the build-up to the goal, the lanky Michael Olunga, who had a great evening, dummied the Leopards rearguard allowing Abondo to stab home.
PINT-SIZED STRIKER
However, the big cats were not going to go down without a fight.
Jacob Keli — the pint-sized striker, who made his name in 2013, when he bagged the league’s Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot awards levelled for Ingwe 10 minutes after the break.
Burundian Emmanuel Ngama made the initial effort from close range that Boniface Oluoch spilled after a diving save, and Keli, who had until then been quiet, reacted fastest to tap the loose ball home.
What followed thereafter was a brawl between the two sets of players forcing centre referee Nasur Doka to book Gor Mahia’s right back Karim Nizigiyimana.
It was a tight duel and tough tackles came in plenty but Doka, who has over time distinguished himself as one of the best in the business, ably kept the emotions in check.
“I am very proud of the boys. They played their hearts out. It was a tough match and I’ m pleased with their input We had our chances in both halves but again this is football, it can always go either way,” Gor’s coach Frank Nuttall, who was taking charge of his first Gor-AFC derby, said afterwards.
Gor’s electric start saw them put their arch rivals under pressure right away.
At the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru, visiting Sofapaka increased Nakuru All Stars’ woes in the league when they beat them 3-1.
Batoto ba Mungu, playing a more purposeful game, netted their match opener in the 45th minute when Collins Shivachi fired a fierce free kick outside the box past All Stars goalkeeper Wycliff Buvaya.
Nakuru equalised in the 65th minute through Boniface Akenga.
Veteran John Baraza added two quick fire goals in the 78th and 87th minutes to end the contest.
This was Sofapaka’s first win in five matches.
