K'Ogalo switch-off Stima to reclaim top spot
PHOTO | FILE Gor Mahia fans during a past Tusker Premier League match at the City Stadium. Gor beat Western Stima 2-1 to climb to the top of the KPL table at the Afraha Stadium on July 12, 2014.
What you need to know:
- K’Ogalo played with verve and power and the absence of the key players including Ugandan striker Dan Sserunkuma, who has been replaced by compatriot Arthur Ssemazi, was hardly felt.
- Inspired by the goal, Gor Mahia never gave their opponents time to reorganise themselves and doubled their lead in the 72nd minute through youngster Otieno.
Despite losing several key players in the mid-season transfer season, Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia stayed on course to retain the title when they switched off Western Stima 2-0 in a fast-paced match played at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on Saturday.
The result plus Tusker's 0-1 loss to Sony Sugar in Awendo on Saturday, helped the defending champions to open a three-point gap between them and the second placed brewers.
K’Ogalo played with verve and power and the absence of the key players including Ugandan striker Dan Sserunkuma, who has been replaced by compatriot Arthur Ssemazi, was hardly felt.
On-loan Talanta FC striker Timothy Otieno and midfielder Joseph Kariuki were outstanding and had the shaky Stima defence on ropes for nearly 90 minutes while on the other end, Harambee Stars defensive kingpin David ‘Calabar’ Owino - who won the Man of the Match award - marshalled K’Ogalo’s backline.
After a scoreless first half Gor Mahia came back a rejuvenated side and went into offensive right from the restart.
Their relentless efforts bore fruits in the 61st minute when Eric Ochieng broke the deadlock from a long range free-kick that took a deflection off a Stima defender ppast keeper Stephen Odhiambo into the back of the net.
SOFT GOAL
Inspired by the goal, Gor Mahia never gave their opponents time to reorganise themselves and doubled their lead in the 72nd minute through youngster Otieno.
The goal resulted from Stima custodian Odhiambo’s blunder after he fumbled with a high ball which fell on Otieno’s path for a soft goal.
“It was simply not our day. My defence was not as tight as it should have been. However, I am now planning for the next match against Thika United in Nairobi," coach Henry Omino of Stima said.
Gor Mahia's gaffer Bobby Williamson on the other hand was satisfied with the result and expressed confidence that the team will maintain the momentum in its quest to retain the title.
“I hope we shall have a good season despite losing our key players,” said Williamson.
This story first appeared on SportOn!
