Gor Mahia warm up for Kagame Cup with Sony win in Kisumu

Gor Mahia warmed up for their Cecafa Club Championships opener against Rwanda's Rayon Sports on Sunday in Dar es Salaam with a hard fought 1-0 win over Sony Sugar in their SportPesa Premier League match at Moi Stadium in Kisumu on Friday.

Jacques Tuyisenge's superb strike was enough for the Kenyan champions to sink bottom placed Sony Sugar 1-0 in the fiery encounter in Kisumu.

The win, coming three days after their 5-0 rout of Posta rangers at the same venue, moved the 16-time champions 15 points of their closest challengers Sofapaka in the standings while the Sugar millers remain bottom on 19 points same as Wazito FC.

Gor Mahia's head coach Dylan Kerr made a few changes in his line up with defender Joash Onyango handed the armband in the absence of skipper Harun Shakava while goalkeeper Shaban Odhoji started in place of Boniface Oluoch.

Former Kakamega Homeboyz defender Charles Momanyi was given a starting role in central defence alongside Joash Onyango.

KERR HAPPY

Kerr said was he was happy with the hard-fought victory as it has been a tough week for his side, promising to continue with the hard work as his charges now head to Dar es Salaam for the Cecafa Kagame Cup.

"I am so proud of them, it has been a tough week for the boys after playing several matches but they were brilliant like everyday and we won the game. We want to win every match and we will work hard for it," said Kerr.

Both teams came off the blocks strongly, with Sony twice attempting to break from the left flank and winning a free-kick moments later just at the edge of Gor's box but they failed to capitalise.

OTIENO'S MISS

Gor made their first attack through Philemon Otieno who had been put through by Innocent Wafula from the right but fired wide. The visitors again threated through Tobias Otieno, but Odhoji was alert.

Gor survived another Sony attack after Odhoji was forced to leave his line to clear a long ball before an on rushing Collins Neto could capitalise, but his clearance went fell to Marvel Onyango who blazed over the bar as he attempted to find the back of the empty net with a long range strike.

Francis Kahata then put through George "Blackberry" Odhiambo on 35 minutes, but Benard Omondi reacted fast, clearing the ball for a corner from which Tuyisenge headed wide.

The match had to be stopped for some minutes as Sony's coach Patrick Odhiambo protested what he claimed was a handball by Odhoji after the goalkeeper left his line clear the ball before Enock Agwanda could strike.

Odhoji then made a brilliant save at the stroke of halftime from Martin Pambas' well taken free-kick after he was fouled by Momanyi, before Tuyisenge was denied by Kevin Omondi in Sony's goal.

Sony made an early second half substitution with Clinton Omondi replacing Neto but it's Gor who started the second half strongly with Ugandan left back Godfrey Walusimbi sending in a dangerous cross from the left but Odhiambo and Tuyisenge failed to connect, before goalkeeper Omondi intercepted another pass inside the danger area.

After a series of early second half attempts, Tuyisenge found the back of the net in the 50th minute with a right footed shot after connecting to Kahata's pass from the left.

George Odhiambo could have added a second moments later but his shot was only good for the side netting before Lawrence Juma was denied by the cross bar. George Odhiambo then missed the rebound.

The sugar-millers made their first second half attempt from a corner-kick but Gor back-liners cleared their lines.

Sony were luck not to go 2-0 down in the 69th minute as Walusimbi's attempt went right into Omondi's hands while substitute Samuel Onyango - who replaced injured Tuyisenge - also missed the target.

Odhoji then denied Agwanda what would have been the equaliser six minutes later after Robert Mudenyu found him on the right side of the box.

Gor continued pressing on with Walusimbi missing another glorious opportunity.