Gor Mahia sink Bandari to close in on title
What you need to know:
- Gor are now 11 points ahead of their closest challengers.
Gor Mahia on Saturday edged closer to claiming an unprecedented 16th SportPesa Premier League title after making light work of Bandari at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu.
At the Sudi Stadium, Nzoia Sugar were held to a goalless draw by visiting Western Stima in the other league match played on Saturday.
In Kisumu, midfielder Francis Kahata, rejuvenated under new coach Dylan Kerr, opened the scoring for the league leaders before Meddie Kagere struck the second. Defender Wellington Ochieng added the third while Michael Apudo pulled one back for the dockers.
The win took Gor's lead atop the standings to 11 points, while also extending Kerr's unbeaten run to 12 matches since taking over from Brazilian Jose Marcelo Ferreira in June.
After a dominant spell in the opening minutes of the match, Kahata slotted home the opener seven minutes to the break to settle down the nerves of the Gor Mahia faithful at the stadium.
Roving right-back Wellington Ochieng, in for Karim Nizigiyimana, weaved his way past a forest of legs inside the Bandari box before setting up Kahata to slam home from close range.
Bandari returned from the breather all guns blazing but were soon 2-0 down after Andrew Waiswa gifted Kagere with the easiest of tasks seven minutes into the second half.
Kagere intercepted a back pass from Waiswa before punishing Paul Nkata’s men.
Bandari could have halved the deficit at the hour mark, but Wilberforce Lugogo’s shot was brilliantly saved by Boniface Oluoch.
Ochieng then made it 3-0 for Gor with 20 minutes to go when he headed past Bandari goalkeeper Joseph Okoth from Kahata’s well taken corner.
With a 3-0 lead, Gor still kept attacking, with Kerr’s charges giving Bandari's defenders a hard time in their area.
Apudo then pulled one for Bandari against the run of play nine minutes from time with a clever shot that beat Oluoch.
Bandari coach Paul Nkata defended his move to commit more numbers in their defence saying he was avoiding to suffer a huge loss.
"This is a superior team and therefore if you don't plan well they can demolish you. We were avoiding such a scenario and that why we had more numbers in front of our goal. Most of our players are injured and this also cost us," said Nkata.
Kerr praised his boys for maintaining their good run and ensuring that they remain unbeaten.
"They have been superb and I am very happy because again they played well and won and so they still remain unbeaten," said Kerr.
