Balinya at the double as Gor down Nzoia

Ugandan Juma Balinya on Sunday opened his accounts at Gor Mahia, scoring a brace as the defending champions thumped Nzoia Sugar 3-0 to maintain their lead at the top of the Kenya Premier League (KPL).

Captain Kenneth Muguna was K'Ogalo's other scorer in the entertaining match at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.

Gor have now won their last three matches and remain atop the table on 44 points, while Nzoia Sugar are still in the danger of being relegated, as after 19matches, they have only accumulated 11 points.

Gor 's coach Steven Polack was full of praise for Balinya saying, "There is no better way to make your full debut than score a brace. I gave him more time to score a hat-trick, unfortunately he got tired. But I am very happy of his performance."

Nzoia Sugar's coach Collins Omondi said his side failed to utilise their chances well.

"We had a few chances, but we were very poor in converting. The shots were very weak to trouble their goalkeeper," said Omondi.

As expected, Gor started strong, taking the game to Nzoia Sugar as they sought for an early lead.

But, the Millers defence kept them at bay for the better part of the early minutes of the clash, as hundreds of supporters at the stadium continued to wait for the opening goal.

Thereafter, Nzoia Sugar failed to trouble the defending champions from two successive corner-kicks.

K'Ogalo's first best scoring chance of the match arrived in the 22nd minute, when Samuel Onyango's shot after connecting to Muguna free-kick was deflected for a fruitless corner-kick.

Three minutes later, Nzoia were awarded a free-kick deep inside Gor's half, but Joseph Mwangi failed to beat goalkeeper David Mapigano with a low shot.

Nzoia goalkeeper Benson Mangala saved the visitors from going down one minute after the half-hour mark, when he blocked Onyango's header from Clifton Miheso's cross.

Gor's efforts finally paid off three minutes to the break, as Balinya opened his accounts at K'Ogalo.

Goalkeeper Mangala had spilled Onyango's powerful shot on the path of the Ugandan who made no mistake in finding the back of the net with a rebound.

Nzoia were the first to threaten in the second half when Feligen Okanda raced upfront to connect to a long pass, but failed to beat Mapigano with a low shot.

The Millers made a change in the 54th minute, James Kibande taking the place of Mwangi.

Muguna should have doubled Gor's lead in the 60th minute, but his shot after rounding goalkeeper Mangala, who had left his line early, rattled the side net.

And two minutes later, Balinya grabbed his brace after Onyango found him with a shot pass inside the box.

Muguna put his name in the scoresheet in the 67th minute with a rebound after Mangala spilled on his path Miheso's shot.

Gor then rested Miheso for Jackson Owusi in the 71st minute, before Mangala denied Muguna a brace from long range.

Balinya was then rested for returnee Edwin Lavasta in the 80th minute. Gor continued to trouble the visitors, but failed to net the fourth goal..