Gor blow Mathare apart to close in on Tusker

Champions Gor Mahia delivered the biggest statement of intent to make more history by holding on to their Kenyan Premier League (KPL) crown for a fourth straight season after silencing Mathare United 2-0 in the clash of the titans on Sunday.

Both K’Ogalo goals were imported with Ugandan midfielder, Godfrey Walusimbi putting the titleholders ahead in the 67th minute before lethal Rwandese striker, Jacques Tuyisenge put the icing on the cake seven from time as Ze Maria’s side moved to 26 points, two behind leaders Tusker FC.

Tuyisenge scored his sixth of the season in an exhilarating KPL encounter at Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium to leave Francis Kimanzi’s side waiting for a first a win against K’Ogalo since 2009.

“I am happy with the display, our plan worked well. I have respect for Mathare too. We must now look ahead to finish the first half (of the season) well. We were unlucky, both teams did not create many chances. Gor used theirs, with the exposure of the internationals they have,” Marcello ‘Ze Maria’ Ferreira said after his biggest victory since he took charge at the club.

Kimanzi was too crestfallen to conduct his media duties as his deputy, Salim Ali suggesting they lost to a side with more quality from imported players.

“Look, Walusimbi scored arguably the best goal this season. Tuyisenge is a foreigner too. We have homegrown talent and this is our way to do it,” Ali told Citizen Digital after the match.

Walusimbi, who scored his first of the season, attributed their resurgence after a torrid start to the campaign to hard work.

“We knew we were not in our position the time we were in bottom ten,  so we have been working focusing on a top spot,” the midfielder stated.

Mathare sat back from the start, waiting to hit on counter as Gor attacked relentlessly.

Tuyisenge, Walusimbi and George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo tested rookie Mathare custodian Peter Odhiambo before a quarter of an hour elapsed.

Mathare’s closest attempt in the first half came on the 43rd minute when striker Daniel Mwaura fired in a powerful shot but Gor’s keeper Boniface Oluoch held on.

The Slum Boys who would have replaced the Brewers at the top with victory were soon in trouble soon after the restart when Walusimbi’s well-struck free-kick forced Odhiambo to produce a spectacular save.

Ze Maria withdrew Wafula in the 60th for Francis Kahata, whose first touch was a pin point cross to Blackberry but he was unable to tap in.

Kahata swapped positions with Walusimbi moving to the left wing as the Ugandan came to the right where Wafula was and Kimanzi by resting Chrispin Oduor for Alphonce Ndonye.

The champions then went ahead when Walusimbi got his bearings right to beat Odhiambo with an effort that flew to the roof of the net from another quality dead ball delivery.

Kimanzi brought on strikers Obadiah Ndege and Harrison Mwendwa for Edwin Seda and Noah Abich as he abandoned his containment plan for attack in search of at least a share of the spoils.

That left spaces for Gor to exploit and they sealed the points when midfielder Eric Ouma, who had been a thorn in Mathare’s fresh set up Tuyisenge with a fine cross that was met with a thumping header for the second.

Ze Maria substituted the Rwanda international immediately after he scored, opting to strengthen the defence with the introduction of Luke Ochieng as K’Ogalo held on to find their way to top two.