Gor Mahia 2-0 Bandari: K'Ogalo warm up for Esperance tie with win

Gor Mahia warmed for their crunch Caf Champions League first round match against Esperance with a comfortable 2-0 win over Bandari at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Saturday.

Two howlers from Bandari goalkeeper Faruk Shikalo allowed Wesley Onguso and Meddie Kagere to score on either side of the half to move K'Ogalo three points clear of second-placed Mathare United at the summit of the Kenyan Premier League standings.

Mathare could move level on points with Gor win a win over Thika United on Sunday in Thika.

Gor face Esperance in the first leg tie of their Champions League first round tie at the same venue on Wednesday.

Substitute Onguso, on for the injured Wellington Ochieng, claimed his first goal in Gor jersey with three minutes to the breather after his intended cross took a huge deflection off Felly Mulumba to beat Shikhalo to his right near post.

Kagere then added a second on 63 minutes with a simple finishing into an empty net after Shikhalo came off his line but failed to deal with a long ball into the area.

Only goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch, skipper Harun Shakava and midfielder George “Blackberry" Odhiambo were given the nod to start by coach Dylan Kerr from Gor's starters in their midweek stalemate with Tusker at the same venue.

Kerr, critical of the fixture congestion that has seen his charges play four matches in 11 days, also welcomed back striker Jacques Tuyisenge from a two-week injury layoff.

“I am impressed today with the boys’ display. I have a great squad which is healthy for such competitions. Everyone played well and we can only hope for the best next week,” an elated Kerr said.

Bandari coach Ken Odhiambo made four changes from the team that beat Wazito 1-0 at home last weekend. Dan Guya replaced on-loan Gor defender Bernard Odhiambo, Ndemi Keagan started on the left flank for Joshua Oyoo while David King’atua and Shaban Kenga were preferred to John Avirre and Wycliffe Ochomo.

Gor made their intentions known early on with a neat exchange of passes from Odhiambo, Godfrey Walusimbi and Francis Kahata causing Bandari trouble on the left before Ochieng’s injury on 18 minutes forced Kerr to bring in Onguso and pushed Walusimbi to the right.

Two minutes later, Onguso’s long throw in forced Shikhalo into action, before the former Muhoroni Youth custodian denied Tuyisenge from close range.

Kahata floated a long ball into the box from the right flank but Shikalo was alert to make a fingertip save from Meddie Kagere’s delightful header as Bandari survived. Keagan had Bandari's first shot at goal at the half hour mark but Oluoch easily dealt with it.

ERROR

Shikhalo will rue his decision to leave his near post unmanned after Onguso's attempted cross deflected off Mulumba's left leg before rolling into an empty net.

The heavy rain in Machakos at the start of the second half did little to dampen Gor's spirits with substitute Boniface Omondi failing to connect to Philemon Otieno’s pass at far post.

The introduction of former Gor forward Wycliffe Ochomo for Nicholas Mejja in the 70th minute didn’t change the tide as Gor kept pushing the visitors.

“I think we gave them a lot of respect that we failed to handle the game as per the instructions. We came to attack but found ourselves defending throughout unlike our past four games,” said Odhiambo.