City edge nervy Gor shootout to win Hull Challenge

Goalkeeper Callum Burton saved three spot-kicks as Hull City FC claimed a 4-3 shootout win over Gor Mahia FC after the exhibition match had ended 0-0 in regulation time.

Boniface Oluoch was also monumental between the sticks, denying Jarrod Bowen and Tom Powell – Hull’s first two takers on the day – to give Gor the advantage but the English championship side rallied to take the honours.

Only Brandon Fleming was blanked by Oluoch onward as Jon Toral, Kevin Stewart, Billy Chadwick and Robbie McKenzie all scored from six yards out in front of a packed-to-capacity Kasarani Stadium.

“Unbelievable support! Thank you to everyone who came to the Kasarani Stadium today and made our players and staff feel very welcome #HullCityInKenya #hcafc #UpTheTigers,” Hull posted on Twitter after the match that marked the centerpiece of their landmark five-day tour of Kenya.

Meddie Kagere, Jacques Tuyisenge and Samuel Onyango each put away their penalties but Gor were undone as captain Harun Shakava, Kevin ‘Ade’ Omondi and Wesley Onguso all failed to beat Burton at the post.

The two sides had battled to a barren stalemate draw in the regulation time, and both sides would save the first spot kicks, captain Harun Shakava sending his straight to the Hull keeper. Medie Kagere converted the second, Jacques Tuyisenge followed the suit, but substitutes Kevin Omondi and Cercidy Okeyo could not.

Despite the loss, the English side will narrate a story of an African team with an amazing might, if the Kasarani proceedings sunk well to the visitors.

Backed by terrific fans who filled the stadium to the last seat, Gor created chances massively in the first stanza, but missed to convert massively too.

The players had sweet time dealing comfortably with the likes of former Manchester United Fraizer Campbell in the defense, led by Shakava hence the result at stoppage.

Gor’s Dylan Kerr wanted a win, thus paraded his finest caring little for the looming Wednesday CAF clash against USM Algiers of Algeria in the same venue, benching only Kagere among his first team regulars.

George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo, who endeared himself to fans with beautiful moves in the most of the half tested the visitors within the first five minutes, before setting up Ivorian Ephrem Guikan a while later. However, he could not beat the alert Hull custodian Marshall.

Hull’s first attempt was engineered by Campbell, who was however unable to breakthrough Philemon Otieno, Shakava and Godfrey Walusimbi who were all over as he sought to shoot in the goalmouth.

John Toral almost found the opener, connecting a well executed free kick just about the quarter hour only for his header to fly over the crossbar with Oluoch lost.

Francis Kahata could not finish off a well threaded move between him and Odhiambo in the 20th, and was unlucky to watch his sumptuously curled free kick miss the door narrowly eight minutes later.

The lady luck was not for Gor through Tuyisenge still, whose effort from Humphrey Mieno’s cross was thwarted.

Going to the break, Gor were counting more losses than gains, in the balance sheet of attempts against the zero score.

Upon resumption, Odhiambo needed only two minutes to lift the eager fans when he was sent through by Walusimbi, only to be ruled offside just before finishing.

Substitute Kagere also was stopped by the referee just before pulling the trigger, for an offside offense with only Marshall left on his way.

Not even the corner-like throw-ins by Wesley Onguso bore fruit for Kerr charges, whose eventuality for the match was perhaps set in the shootout by the gods.

At that final whistle, a section of fans hurled bottles in the field but momentarily expressing dissatisfaction with the result.