Captain Kevin Omondi fires Gor Mahia past Nzoia

It was another routine win for defending champions Gor Mahia as they beat Nzoia Sugar 1-0 on Sunday in a Kenyan Premier League tie at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos to stretch their lead at the top to five points.

And in earlier game played at the same venue, fans were treated to a goal fest as Chemelil Sugar thrashed Nakumatt 4-1 thanks to a hat trick from Philip Muchuma.

Kevin Omondi, who took the captain's arm band in the absence of Harun Shakava, came through with the game's decisive moment for K'Ogalo.

Omondi struck in the 42nd minute after receiving well a cross from Boniface Omondi on the right.

Heavy rains pounding the area however distorted the flow of the game in the second half during which both teams were restricted in terms of output.

Gor coach Dylan Kerr effected a complete overhaul in the team, resting Boniface Oluoch, Harun Shakava, Meddie Kagere, Francis Kahata and every other player, who started against Esperance last week, and bringing instead an entirely fresh squad.

Up starter Shabaan Odhoji started in place of Oluoch between the sticks, as Wesley Onguso, Joachim Oluoch and Charles Momanyi covered him in defence.

Kevin Omondi took the captain's armband in Shakava's absence, and he was tasked with the sole responsibility for banging goals in Kerr's revamped 4-5-1 formation.

As expected, Nzoia paraded their best players in all departments, with striker Elvis Rupia, who frustrated Kakamega Homeboyz in their previous match, starting upfront.

K'Ogalo found their first real chance in the eighth minute, and it was Ivorian Ephrem Guikan, who dispatched a thunderous shot from the right, only for it to hit the post and ricochet off the field of play.

Nzoia had a chance in the 20th minute, when David Odhiambo came to the end of a nice exchange between himself and George Mutimba, and shot the ball at close range.

Shabaan Odhoji was however alert to avert an early capitulation for Gor.

By the 25th minute, Gor had been caught offside three times, a sign of how eager they were to get ahead. Nzoia were yet to make any meaningful attempt by this time.

As the rains started pounding in the second half, neither team could do much.

K'Ogalo full back Wesley Onguso, however came close in the 79th minute, when he took a penalty his team had been awarded after Eloud Loukwam had been fouled inside the box.

Onguso shook the net with his first attempt but the referee cancelled it. His second attempt was unsuccessful as it was punched out by Nzoia custodian Benard Mangala.

In an earlier match played at the same venue, Chemelil Sugar thrashed Nakumatt 4-1 thanks to a hat trick from Philip Muchuma.

Brian Nyakan opened the scoring early in the match with an easy tap in of a cross delivered by Cornelius Juma.

Muchuma however restored parity for the sugar millers in the 34th minute after finishing off a quick counter attack that had been initiated by Benjamin Oketch.

Muchuma doubled his attempt five minutes into the second half, and Noah Abich mistakenly turned the ball into his own net in a desperate attempt to thwart an attempt from Edwin Omondi.

Muchuma then completed his hat trick in the 75th minute with a successful spot kick that had been awarded after Jacob Mwamlangira had been fouled by Abich inside the box.