Gor Mahia held to a 1-1 draw by Posta Rangers
By Mark Kinyanjui
Gor Mahia’s pursuit of the 2025/2026 SportPesa League title hit a roadblock on Thursday afternoon as they were held to a dramatic 1-1 draw by a resilient and tactically stubborn Posta Rangers side in a clash held at Nyayo Stadium
Despite dominating large periods of play, K’Ogalo required a 90th-minute equaliser from Ebenezer Assifuah to cancel out Jackson Macharia’s early opener.
Early Shock for Gor Mahia
The match began with high intensity, but it was Posta Rangers who looked more clinical from the onset. After an early scare in the 4th minute when Wasambo’s effort flew wide, the “Mailmen” delivered a sucker punch just 10 minutes into the game.
Capitalizing on a defensive lapse, Caleb Olilo floated a dangerous cross into the box, finding Jackson Macharia who steered the ball home to give Posta a shock 1-0 lead.
Gor Mahia responded with wave after wave of attacks, but their finishing left much to be desired. Former Rangers man Jackson Dwang became the face of Gor’s frustrations in the first half.
In the 19th minute, he did everything right by connecting with a low cross from Samuel Kapen, only to see his shot rattle the post. Seconds later, he had another bite at the cherry but fired wide of the mark.
The frustration followed Dwang into the second half. Just three minutes after the restart, he missed a good chance from close range after being set up perfectly by Kapen. This proved to be the final straw for coach Charles Akonnor, who immediately rang the changes.
Akonnor’s Tactical Gamble
Seeing his side struggle for a breakthrough, Akonnor opted for a “raft of changes,” hauling off the indecisive Dwang and Kapen for Ben Stanley Omondi and Ebenezer Adu-Kwaw.
The tactical shift almost paid off immediately. Ben Stanley turned provider for Patrick Essombe in the 71st minute, but the latter failed to hit the target from a promising position.
The Wall of Bixente Otieno
Posta Rangers’ goalkeeper, Bixente Otieno, was arguably the most influential player on the pitch. In the 75th minute, he pulled off a stunning save to deny a header from Ebenezer Assifuah.
However, the save came at a cost. Otieno appeared to aggravate an injury sustained in an earlier collision with a Gor Mahia player and was eventually stretched off.
His departure, combined with Posta’s frequent “injury” breaks and tactical fouls, completely disrupted the rhythm of the game.
90th Minute Salvation
As the clock ticked toward full-time, Gor Mahia threw everyone forward. In the 90th minute, the pressure finally told. Ebenezer Assifuah found space in the crowded box to slot home the equalizer, sparking wild celebrations from the green-and-white faithful.
Recognizing the constant time-wasting and fouls, the referee added a staggering 10 minutes of stoppage time. The extra period was a frantic affair, with Gor Mahia missing two golden opportunities to snatch all three points.
New signing Ebenezer Adu-Kwaw had the chance to become the hero, but he lacked composure, hitting the ball over the bar in both the 95th and 99th minutes. The result now means Gor Mahia remain top of the league on 50 points ahead of AFC Leopards, who are second on 43 points but with a game in hand on their sworn rivals.
