CAF Confed Cup: Gor Mahia Outclass Hussein Dey To Go Top Of Group D

NAIROBI, Kenya- Record domestic league winners Gor Mahia FC left it late to sink NA Hussein Dey 2-0 at the Kasarani Stadium to go top of Group D in the CAF Confederations Cup on Sunday afternoon.

Kenyan International Francis Kahata and Jacques Tuyisenge traded late goals to give Gor the all important victory and three extra points to take their tally to six from three games.

Gor came into the game in third place, level on points with second-place Petro Atletico de Luanda, whilst the visitors were top with four.

This was Gor’s second home encounter following their more than impressive 4-2 thrashing of Egyptian giants Zamalek SC, who were trailing the group with only one point.

The thousands of supporters in the stands didn’t go quiet throughout the opening minutes and only got louder as Sammy Onyango got the first shot away in the second.

The visitors put together a couple of good passes but their final ball was wanting as no keeper was troubled by the eighth minute.

A minute later, Hussein Dey came close after some swift interplay but captain Ahmed Gasmi didn’t quite time his run and his effort went wide.

In the 12th minute, Nicholas Kipkirui did well to put Jacques Tuyisenge through on goal but the shot was weak allowing Zakaria Bouhalfaya to gather.

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There was a long stoppage in the game as their captain Gasmi was stretchered off the pitch to receive treatment after a collision with Onyango.

Gor picked up the pace and began to dominate possession, bringing the fans back to life as they pressed for that opening goal.

Gasmi couldn’t continue and when he dropped to his knees in the 29th, Abderaouf Chouiter came on in his place.

Francis Kahata sent in a teasing ball from a free kick in the 37th which eventually fell to Kenneth Muguna but his shot went well over the bar.

The fans began to get very agitated as three Hussein Dey players went and stayed down in a span of five minutes, perhaps a time wasting ploy.

Hocine Laribi was the visiting teams second substitute of the game, coming on in the 41st for the injured Abderahmnane Yousfi.

As soon as he came on, his teammate went down injured and he too was stretchered off, being the third player in the first half and the fans jeered at him as he jogged to get back into the pitch.

Chems Edine Harrag took Hussein Dey’s first corner of the match and that was the last kick of the half, the score still goalless.

Eight minutes into the second half, Gor came close after Onyango found Kipkirui in space who crossed it for Kahata but he couldn’t quite connect well making it easy for Bouhalfaya to collect.

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Shafik Batambuze tried to whip in two good crosses from the left wing in the following minutes but Bouhalfaya’s height made them easy to contain.

There were loud appeals for a penalty in the 65th after Onyango did well to skip past three defenders and the ball was handled but the referee gave a corner. 

Onyango took the corner and Charles Momanyi rose highest but couldn’t get enough on his header to point it goalwards.

Hassan Oktay made his first change of the game in the 68th, taking off Lawrence Juma and bringing on Bernard Ondiek in a like for like substitution.

In the 72nd, Tuyisenge missed a tap in from right in front of the goal after a Batambuze cross but the fourth official had already raised his flag for offside.

Half a minute later, the Rwandese forward missed a one on one yet again but even after Bouhalfaya’s save he had been flagged offside.

Onyango made way for 2010 Kenyan Premier League’s player of the year George “Blackberry” Odhiambo in the 74th as they continued to push for a winning goal.

The home sides third and final change came in the 79th as one striker replaced another with Kipkirui coming off for Francis Mustapha.

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In the 81st, Kasarani erupted as Francis Kahata got on the end of a Batambuze cross to score with his weaker foot, giving Gor a well deserved lead and qualification hopes.

Their afternoon got even easier before the restart as Hussein Dey were reduced to ten men, Harrag given his marching orders for arguing with the referee.

In the 86th, it was mayhem once again as Tuyisenge doubled their advantage with a fantastic strike from another Batambuze assist, the game looking to be over.

There was a slight delay because of the visitors protests but it was too little too late as Gor emerged victorious, setting up a potential cracker in Algeria in a week.