Gor Mahia 3-1 City Stars: Michael Olunga brace leaves league strugglers in awe

On-song Gor Mahia continued with their relentless march towards a third consecutive Kenyan Premier League title with a 3-1 win over relegation-threatened Nairobi City Stars at the Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday.

At the Moi Stadium in Kisumu, Muhoroni Youth shocked Western Stima 1-0, while visiting Bandari piled more misery on Thika United’s woes after emerging 2-1 winners at the Thika Municipal Stadium.

At Nyayo Stadium, Lanky striker Michael Olunga played a starring role in K’Ogalo’s conquest, scoring in either side of the half after Rwandan forward Meddie Kagere had opened the scoring.

Jimmy Bageya pulled a consolation for City Stars in stoppage time but it was too late to spark a comeback.

Olunga headed in with aplomb just before the break after right-back Karim Nizigiyimana had delivered a pin-point cross from the right.

TWO-GOAL CUSHION

His strike gave K`Ogalo a two-goal cushion after Kagere had steered Gor to a 25th minute lead with a precise header from an Abouba Sibomana delivery from the left flank.

Olunga then wrapped up the win in the 61st minute, converting from the spot after John Amboko was adjudged to have handled in the box.

Despite the victory, Gor`s deputy coach John "Bobby" Ogolla was left wishing for more.

"I wish it was more than three goals, but I'm glad we won," he said.

His opposite number Gabriel "Kingi" Njoroge was however not pleased with the penalty decision.

"The game was fine, I had instructed the players not to allow crosses into the box, and it's unfortunate that we were beaten by such balls. We lost the match the moment we allowed such crosses to be delivered," he said.

On the penalty he said: "It was not a penalty, but should have been a free-kick outside the box."

The silver-haired Ogolla, deputising for head coach Frank Nuttall who is away on family engagement, kept faith in the usual line up with the burly Ernest Wendo being the only new face. Wendo benefited from the suspension of Khalid Aucho but the Ugandan’s absence did not dent Gor`s momentum as they easily romped to another routine win.

Elsewhere, George Mandela scored the lone goal in the 43rd minute as Muhoroni shocked Stima 1-0 at home in Kisumu while at the Thika Municipal Stadium, hosts Thika continued with their poor run losing 2-1 to visiting Bandari.

Elsewhere, AFC Leopards brushed aside Football Kenya Federation Premier League side Ligi Ndogo 2-1 at the Nairobi City Stadium to sail through to the next round of the GOtv Shield Cup. Ligi raced to a 15th minute lead through Yidah Sven but goals from Lamine Dialao and Patrick “Petit” Kagogo were enough to secure the win.

RESULTS

Gor 3-1 City Stars; Thika United 1-2 Bandari; Western Stima 0-1 Muhoroni Youth