Gor, Muhoroni Youth advance into KPL Top 8 semis

Gor Mahia's Jacques Tuyisenge celebrates his goal against Ushuru during their Kenyan Premier League Top Eight quarter-final match played on May 2, 2016 at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Muhoroni Youth also reached the semi-finals after thumping league strugglers Sofapaka 3-0 in an earlier quarter-final match played at the same venue.
  • Ushuru had contained Gor in the first half, but Jacques Tuyisenge broke the stalemate in the second half after pouncing on a loose ball spilled by Ushuru goalkeeper Shabaan Odhoji.

Defending champions Gor Mahia on Monday kept alive their hopes of retaining the Kenyan Premier League Top Eight title after beating Ushuru 1-0 in the quarter-finals at Nyayo National Stadium.

Muhoroni Youth also reached the semi-finals after thumping league strugglers Sofapaka 3-0 in an earlier quarter-final match played at the same venue.

Ushuru had done well to contain Gor in the first half, but Jacques Tuyisenge broke the stalemate in the second half through a controversial goal that left Ushuru players protesting.

Gor will now play Tusker in the semis, while Muhoroni tackle Ulinzi Stars.

GOAL RULED OFF-SIDE

In the first match of the day, Sofapaka could have gone ahead in the 12th minute when striker Jackson Oketch found the back of the net, but his goal was ruled off-side despite television replays showing he was onside.

The teams were locked 0-0 at half-time but ‘Batoto ba Mungu’ cracked under pressure in the second-half as visiting Muhoroni Youth repeatedly tested goalkeeper Evariste Mutuyimana.

In the 51st minute, Muhoroni defender Wellington Ochieng' surged forward and met a free-kick floated homewards by Nigerian striker Abbas Akinyemi to score.

Wycliffe Ochomo doubled the scores for the sugar millers in the 74th minute when he connected with a timely cross from former Thika United forward Moses Arita. Arita then grabbed a goal of his own in the second minute of added time.

“We are no longer underdogs. We’ve beaten some of the big teams, which means we have matured. We are ready to face them (Ulinzi) in the semi-finals,” Muhoroni coach James Omondi said after the match.