Sammy Onyango The Hero As Gor Silence Sofapaka In Nakuru

17th February 2019 - by Louis Kalinga

SPL champions return to domestic duty to snap five-game winning streak in a 1-0 victory over the 2009 league winners at Afraha Stadium, Nakuru

Jubilanr Gor Mahia FC fans celebrate their 2-0 victory over AFC Leopards SC in the Mashemeji Derby played in Nairobi on February 10, 2019. PHOTO/SPN

SUMMARY

Sammy Onyango’s well taken first half goal was enough for Hassan Oktay’s side as they dominated proceedings and earned themselves a valuable three points that lifted them to third on the log on 25 points, three adrift of pace setters Bandari FC with a game in hand
But that was the warning shot Batoto ba Mungu failed to heed as barely two minutes later, Gor turned the temperatures at Afraha when they took the lead after sublime build up play that ended with Onyango scoring with a great finish from a fantastic Tuyisenge through ball
The last word went to Oliech who failed to connect with the ball when he was sprung on goal by Ernest Wendo in another blistering counter attack

NAKURU, Kenya- Samuel Onyango was the hero as SportPesa Premier League (SPL) champions Gor Mahia FC made another telling statement in their bid to retain the crown when they snapped Sofapaka FC’s winning streak in a 1-0 victory at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on Sunday.

Onyango’s well taken first half goal was enough for Hassan Oktay’s side who dominated proceedings and earned themselves a valuable three points that lifted them to third on the log on 25 points, three adrift of pace setters Bandari FC with a game in hand.

Gor were back to domestic duty following their 1-2 loss away to Petro Atletico in their second Group D CAF Confed Cup fixture that left them second in the pool behind NA Hussein Dey of Algeria and played the 2009 league champions who had won five in a row ahead of this fixture barely 48 hours after returning from Luanda in another stern test to their credentials.

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A legion of K’Ogalo fans made the 157Km journey from the capital to cheer their side in the game that was played a day later than scheduled with the decibel levels rocking the creaky old stadium located in the lakeside town which hosted the 2018 SportPesa Cup.

Fancy footwork

Gor's star midfielder Francis Kahata was first to get the crowd off their feet in the second minute with some fancy footwork that left Hillary Achesa on the ground but his cross into the box was cleared but the game slowed down with no shot on target from either side in the opening 10.

Batoto Ba Mungu’s top scorer for the season, Umaru Kasumba got a shot off in the 13th but Gor captain Harun Shakava did well to block before the champions poured forward a minute later and Kenya international Philemon Otieno picked out top scorer Jacques Tuyisenge with a delightful cross field ball which the latter headed just wide of the goal in a move that electrified the Gor supporters.

It was Kasumba again in the 17th, who made the most of a Joash Onyango slip outside the penalty area but his follow up effort went wide of the post and back came Gor with a counter-attack led by Kenneth Muguna who fed Onyango on the left wing but the midfielder spurned the chance as the ball went out for a corner in the 21st.

But that was the warning shot Batoto ba Mungu failed to heed as barely two minutes later, Gor turned the temperatures at Afraha when they took the lead after sublime build up play that ended with Onyango scoring with a great finish from a fantastic Tuyisenge through ball.

John Baraza's charges attempted to hit back through John Avire but his header off an Elli Asieche free-kick went just wide before Gor's Ernest Wendo went into the book for a high challenge.

In the 37th, the champions blew the chance to extend their lead when Onyango was once again at the end of a flowing attack but the finish deserted him as his effort sailed over the bar.

Lovely cross

Muguna was next to come close with two minutes left in the half after Shafik Batambuze found him with a lovely cross but his header did little to trouble Justine Ndikumana in the Sofapaka goal.

It left Onyango separating the sides at the break and upon resumption, it took until the 53rd minute for the game to spark into life when Tuyisenge chested the ball down and fed Muguna but the midfielder -who scored one of their goals in their last SPL outing when they humbled arch rivals AFC Leopards SC 2-0- sent a meek shot that was easily gathered by Ndikumana.

Gor were on the front foot with Kahata winning a corner that was whipped in by Onyango that invited Shakava to attack but the skipper could not keep his header down six minutes later.

Oktay ran in a double change with Kahata going off in the 67th and was replaced by George 'Blackberry' Odhiambo as Lawrence Juma came on for Muguna.

Another substitute and former Gor crowd favourite, Ibrahim Kitawi, threatened to level the contest in the 72nd but Fredrick Odhiambo in between the Gor sticks was alert to the danger.

With nine minutes left on the clock, Gor fans rose to acclaim the entry of Kenya record scorer Dennis Oliech who was making his first appearance after missing two games injured and aside from an Avire no-look header that was easy pickings for Odhiambo, the SPL titleholders kept Sofapaka at bay to record a crucial victory.

The last word went to Oliech who failed to connect with the ball when he was sprung on goal by Ernest Wendo in another blistering counter attack.