Gor Mahia move seven points clear after hard-fought victory over Posta Rangers

Record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia strengthened their claim for a 21^st Football Kenya Federation Premier League title as they recorded a gritty 0-1 victory over Posta Rangers to move seven points clear at the top of the league table.

A first half header from defender Kennedy ‘Vidic’ Onyango helped K’Ogalo fend off strong challenge from the surprise title contenders as Gor Mahia maintained their unbeaten run in the 23/24 campaign after the conclusion of the first leg (W10 D7 L0).

“It was an incredibly intense game. We have obviously played 17 games in the first leg but that was the toughest, there is no doubt about it.

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John Kamau has Posta playing some really good football and this is the type of game where we had to grind and defend really well. Overall, we are really happy with the result we got but there is still a lot of football to be played,” Gor boss Johnatahan McKinstry remarked after the win.

Billed as a potential title-deciding clash, it is K'Ogalo who started the game with intent as they made their first attempt inside the opening two minutes, Austin Odhiambo making a shot that caused little trouble to the Rangers keeper as it sailed wide.

While K'Ogalo tried to keep possession, Rangers set out early to hit on the counter whenever Gor Mahia pressed high and they showed glimpses of that tactic inside the opening quarter of an hour with two breakaway attempts that did not amount to anything substantial.

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Gor put the pressure but clear cut chances in the game proved difficult to come by with both sides only feeding on scraps.

Just six minutes to the half time break though, the game burst into life when former Nairobi City Stars defender Onyango timed his run to perfection to head in Alpha Onyango’s corner kick past Michael Wanyika in the Rangers goal as Gor led into the break.

McKinstry would introduce the experienced Ernest Wendo and Boniface Omondi at the start of the second half in place of Lawrence Juma and Patrick Sibomana but it is Rangers who came out quickest off the blocks.

Clever play starting from in-form defender Kennedy Owino created two clear chances for Rangers to equalize but two last-ditch interventions from Geoffrey Ochieng and Wendo spared K’Ogalo’s blushes.

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The mailmen then came the closest with Patrick Otieno’s header just coming off the crossbar in the 73rd minute having beaten Kevin Omondi in the Gor goal in another moment that left Gor fans with bated breaths.

Try as they could with late substitutions, the mailmen just failed to find their way as the resolute Gor held on for the three points to finish the first leg unbeaten with a seven-point cushion.

Starting XIs

Posta Rangers: Michael Wanjala (GK), Dinken Mwema, Titus Achesa (Geoffrey Ojunga (86'), Faustime Ojiambo, Kennedy Odhiambo, Brian Musa, Brian Marita (Jackson Macharia 60'), Peter Oudu, Patrick Otieno, Vincent Wasambo (Eric Gichimu 85'), Caleb Olilo (Brian Otieno) 60')

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Gor Mahia: Kevin Omondi (GK), Ronney Onyango, Geoffrey Ochieng, Joshua Onyango, Kennedy Onyango, Alpha Onyango, Patrick Sibomana (Boniface Omondi 45'), Lawrence Juma (Ernest Wendo 45'), Patrick Kaddu (Benson Omalla 63')Austine Odhiambo (Sydney Ochieng 80'), Rogers Mugisha (Bryson Wangai 63')