Plucky Mbao Depose Mighty Gor From SportPesa Cup Throne

DAR-ES-SALAAM, Tanzania- Debutants Mbao FC of Tanzania caused the biggest upset of the 2019 SportPesa Cup when they ended the reign of two-time winners Gor Mahia FC of Kenya 4-3 on post-match penalties at the Main National Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam on Tuesday.

The minnows made history by becoming the first ever team to score against Gor since the knockout tournament was inaugurated in 2017 when they came from behind to force a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

Not even the powers of Kenya record goal-scorer Dennis Oliech- who scored on his SP Cup debut from the spot for the opener in the 50th minute- could save the jaded SportPesa Premier League (SPL) champions from tumbling out of the competition at the first hurdle.

Mbao bravely fought back to level the contest through Abubakari Ngalema who turned in a neat finish with a quarter of an hour to go to set the stage for the monumental shock that was to ensue in the shootout.

The result means another team will get the chance to play English side Everton FC by winning the SP Cup with Mbao advancing to meet fellow first timers Bandari FC who beat Singida United FC 1-0 in the opening quarterfinal of the third edition of the tournament.

During the shootout, substitute midfielder Francis Kahata scored with a sublime penalty into the top corner to make it 1-0 before Said Khamis levelled the scores by sending Gor keeper Peter Odhiambo the wrong way.

Record goal signing Jacques Tuyisenge who also came on in the second half and Ngalema traded scores before George Odhiambo put the Kenyans 3-2 ahead.

It got better for Gor when their keeper saved a feeble Ibrahim Hashimu kick before first captain Harun Shakava then his defensive partner Shafik Batambuze missed in succession to hand the Mbao the advantage they never relinquished.

Hamimu Abdikarim and Mbao captain David Mwasa stepped up to send their fans and the whole of Tanzania into orbit when they converted to dump the record 17-time Kenyan giants from the tournament they had owned for two years.

Seismic upset

The seismic upset was the entire rave on social media as Tanzania celebrated their first team to make the semis, as conversation peaked on tournament hash tag #SportPesaCup.

In truth, Gor were there for the picking having arrived in Dar at the back of a bruising encounter against New Star de Douala FC at Limbe Stadium in Doula, Cameroon where they battled to force a 0-0 draw that sealed progress to the CAF Confederations Cup group stages with a 2-1 victory on aggregate last Sunday. 

Head coach Hassan Oktay opted to rest most of his big guns, with Kahata and Tuyisenge among those who started on the bench.

His team fashioned a first chance in the fourth when Cercidy Okeyo put through a fantastic through ball from a free kick but Erisa Ssekisambu’s effort went wide of the goal.

A minute later, Lawrence Juma wasted a glorious chance to put the deposed champions ahead but he completely mistimed his right footed effort as it rolled out for a goal kick. 

After surviving an early scare, Mbao started to assert their presence and their midfielder Gerphas Rambo got a shot off in the 11th went harmlessly over.

‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo got into the game in the 16th with some fancy footwork, skipping past three players before laying the ball off to Oliech who squared it for Sammy Onyango but his final ball was gathered by Mnata Metacha. 

Moments after, Juma put in a beautiful ball into the box that was met by Oliech’s head but his effort was right at the goalkeeper, Ssekisambu got the second ball into the back of the net but it was ruled offside. 

There was drama when Oktay was sent to the stands in the 21st after what looked like a nasty exchange with the referee, with his assistant Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno assuming the position on the touchline. 

Shakava also got the hall in the back of the net in the 26th after his defensive partner Joash Onyango had headed it back but again, the referee waved the effort offside. 

In the 42nd, Onyango put Oliech through with a great through ball and what looked like a cross from Kenya’s record goal scorer confused the Mbao defence and they were relieved when it hit the crossbar on its way out as the teams went to the break goalless.

After a number of half chances, the game turned when the referee awarded a penalty to the Kenyans after the ball was handled inside the box and Oliech stepped up to dispatch his finish to give Gor the lead before leaving the pitch in the 64th for Francis Mustapha.

The 2017 and 18 SP Cup champions then sought to see out but Mbao snapped at their heels, getting due reward when Ngalema sparked celebrations by levelling the contest.

And despite the referee signalling five minutes to be added on after the 90, Gor could not force the winner in a late flurry as Mbao held firm to make history in the ensuing shootout.