Resilient Gor Go 8 Points Clear At SPL Summit, KCB Stun Mathare

NAIROBI, Kenya- SportPesa Premier League (SPL) champions Gor Mahia FC came from behind twice to edge Sony Sugar FC 3-2 at the Moi Stadium, Kisumu on Wednesday afternoon.

The victory stretched their lead at the SPL summit to 44 points, eight ahead of second-place Sofapaka FC, who are in action tomorrow against Vihiga United FC.

Competition managers, the Kenyan Premier League shifted the game from Awendo to Kisumu at the request of Sony who felt their home venue could not guarantee adequate security owing to steep rivarly between the two sides.

Former Gor striker Enock Agwanda opened the scoring in the 21st to put the sugar millers ahead but Rwandese forward Jacques Tuyisenge leveled matters three minutes later.

Joshua Nyatini then responded well with a goal in the 27th to put Sony in the lead for a second time in the match.

Ten minutes later, Samuel Onyango then did well to restore parity, with the high-scoring game going into the break with the scores level at 2-2.

The match was decided with 13 minutes to go as Gor were awarded a penalty and Nicholas Kipkirui stepped up to convert and hand the record league winners maximum points.

READ ALSO: Uganda World Cross Star Cheptengei Challenges President Museveni On Twitter

Hassan Oktay’s charges will be out of league action this weekend as they prepare to host RS Berkane at the Kasarani Stadium in the first leg of their CAF Confederations Cup quarterfinals.

Sony remain in seventh on the standings and face a tricky test on Sunday against 16th place Posta Rangers FC, who are battling to avoid relegation.

Earlier in the day, Tusker FC were held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Western Stima FC in the first of a double header at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.

Boniface Muchiri scored his third consecutive goal in as many games to put the brewers ahead in the 57th, but Samuel Onyango canceled out his effort in the 77th.

The point leaves newcomers Stima in eighth, one place above their opponents having both played 20 games.

In Mombasa, last season’s runners-up Bandari FC snapped a four-match winless streak as they too did exceptionally well to come from behind and record a 3-2 victory over bottom side Mt. Kenya United FC.

New signing Musa Ekai scored a brace in the first half, either side of a Shaban Kenga strike to give the visitors a 2-1 halftime lead.

January’s best Abdallah Hassan then got a brace of his own in the second half to give the hosts the crucial three points as they continue to try and better their best ever finish in the top flight.

The win moved coach Bernard Mwalala’s side into third with 36 points, level with second place Sofapaka.

READ ALSO: Relegated Fulham Feeling The Pinch Of Money Ill Spent

Kakamega Homeboyz FC continued their steady rise on the SPL log after a slim 1-0 win against Ulinzi Stars FC saw them join the top five.

Moses Mudavadi was the hero with a goal in the 69th, which was enough for the Nicholas Muyoti side on the day.

The defeat moved Ulinzi out of the top 10 as they went down a place into 11th with 25 points from 19 matches.

In the second match staged at the Kenyatta Stadium, Kenya Commercial Bank FC made it four games unbeaten in their best streak of the 2018/19 SPL season as they edged Mathare United FC 1-0.

A first half Clinton Kisiavuki strike was enough for the hosts to bag all three points and maintain their 10th place standing on the log. 

Bethwel Warambo, who was the scorer in KCB's 1-0 win against Posta Rangers at the same venue, handled the ball in the 65th but Kevin Kimani missed the resulting penalty to dim the Slum Boys hope of a comeback.

The defeat, Mathare's second in the last five games leaves them in fourth with 34, ten points off leaders Gor Mahia.