Photo || Gor Mahia
Record SportPesa League champions Gor Mahia overcame spirited Mathare United 2-1 to keep their lead at the top of the table alive in a league clash that took place at the Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday.
First Half – Mathare Hold Gor Mahia
Gor Mahia were the first to attempt a shot in the third minute. Fidel Origa attempted a shot which a Mathare player blocked before the ball landed onto the feet of Jackson Dwang, who unleashed a ferocious shot that hit side netting.
In the fifth minute, Mathare nearly took a surprising lead when Isaac Omweri nonchalantly coasted past Levin Odhiambo, before attempting a left footed shot that just about missed the mark from close range.
Gor Mahia then had arguably a much better chance to take the lead five minutes later, when the speedy Shariff Musa dribbled past his marker, and only had the keeper to beat but agonisingly hit the woodwork.
For the next 13 minutes, the game would be evenly poised, with no team really creating any inroads in the other side’s half. This was epitomised by a wayward shot from outside the box in the 24th minute by Ghanaian midfielder Enock Morrison that went wide off the mark.
With six minutes of the first half remaining, Ebenezer Adukwawu received the ball from wide and left and cut inside on his right foot, before attempting a shot that blazed over the bar.
Second Half – Assifuah Impactful For Gor Mahia
This prompted Gor Mahia coach Charles Akonnor into making a raft of changes at the beginning of the second half. Koffi Assifuah and Bryton Onyona would come on for Levin and Adu-Kwaw, with Akonnor’s men hungry to finally break the deadlock.
In the 50th minute, Samuel Kapen found himself one on one with Mathare keeper Kevin Ouru in what was arguably the biggest clear cut chance created by either side off game. He had the chance to either square it to Shariff Musa or lob Ouru, but his resultant execution was way off the mark, which left Gor Mahia fans in the stands outraged.
Gor Mahia kept piling on the pressure, and in the 59th minute, Alpha Onyango’s attempt forced Ouru into an excellent save. In the 65th minute, Musa should have won his side a penalty after being brought down inside the box, but the referee saw nothing wrong.
In the 68th minute, Gor Mahia’s efforts finally bore fruit, as Assifuah continued his knack for influencing games off the bench with a shot Ouru could do little to prevent from going in.
Mathare coach John Kamau then also made a host of changes himself. John Macharia, Dennis Okoth and Hillary Kiprotich came on for Eli Asieche, Harrison Amalemba and Fidel Otieno.
Okoth himself would have a massive impact, as he restored parity for Mathare in the 82nd minute, leaving Gor Mahia with plenty of work to do if they were to get all three points.
They needed not to worry, as Assifuah would soon win a penalty in the 86th minute, which Morrison made no mistake, to give K’Ogalo the lead once more.
Gor Mahia Hang On\
In the end, Morrison’s goal was enough to give K’Ogalo all the three points in the end. The result now means Gor Mahia remain top of the league on 49 points.Â
AFC Leopards, who are second on 40, must beat high-flying Shabana, who are level on points on Sunday to reduce the gap to six points with a game in hand.
