Gor close in on Tusker with late City Stars win

Midfielder Collins ‘Gatuso’ Okoth claimed a last-gasp winner for Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Gor Mahia to move the champions within three points of leaders Tusker FC who stumbled on Sunday.

K’Ogalo left it late to sink battling relegation threatened City Stars 2-1 as the Brewers salvaged a point in a 1-1 draw with basement side Sofapaka FC in their Machakos Derby.

Elsewhere, Bandari FC stemmed their recent slump by beating high flying Muhoroni Youth 2-1 as Ulinzi Stars reignited their flailing title hopes by edging a five-goal thriller against Ushuru FC 3-2 to move up to third.

 

The weekend action left the top four reading Tusker 37, Gor, 34 and Ulinzi 31 with Mathare United who dropped from second to fourth on goal after the Slum Boys were stunned 2-0 by Thika United on Saturday trailing the soldiers on goal difference.

At Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium, another frustrating afternoon for Gor’s Brazilian coach Marcello ‘Ze Maria’ Fereira ended in huge relief after Okoth sunk a dramatic winner in the last minute of time added on.

Once again, the vaunted striking force of Meddie Kagere, Jacques Tuyisenge and substitutes Enock Agwanda and Baron Okecth failed to make an impact to leave the former Brazilian international fraught on the touch line.

It took the intervention of Okoth who was making a comeback from injury to salvage the day and reignite K’Ogalo’s title defence when he converted from close range after City Stars failed to deal with a long throw from Agwanda.

Jimmy Bageya was a thorn in the flesh for Gor’s defense and was unlucky to finish the end-to-end encounter without a goal.

Harun Shakava opened the scoring for the titleholders in the 22nd, his first of the season, turning in Francis Kahata’s corner at the far post with a low shot after the ball missed Tuyisenge and Innocent Wafula’s heads.

But the Kawangware based City Stars took just a minute to level through striker Ezekiel Odera who beat Harambee Stars first choice keeper, Boniface Oluoch, from a through pass.

 

In Machakos, Sofapaka took the lead in the 29th through Moses Odhiambo before Shafiq Batambuze equalised in the 58th with Batoto ba Mungu remaining bottom with nine points despite gaining a vulable point.

John Mark Makwata notched a hat-trick to move to within a goal of Golden Boot race on 11 as Ulinzi kick-started their title chase by beating Ushuru who fired back through two penalties from Kennedy Oduor and Maurice Odipo.

Oduor and Makwata traded spot-kicks 60 seconds apart in the 21st and 22nd minutes as Ushuru lost the lead in a blur before the latter put his side 2-1 up in the 36th.

It was 2-2 at the break when Odipo scored from 12 yards but Makwata claimed the match ball in the 57th with his treble that proved to be the winner as Ushuru dropped to 13th (22).

Bandari bounced to winning ways in an ill tempered clash that saw both teams finish with ten men after keeper Wilson Obungu was sent off for the home side in the 71st for a second bookable offense.

Golden Boot race leader, Wycliffe Ochomo, who was returning from suspension after being sent off, then received a straight red in stoppage time in a match he grabbed his 12th of the season in the 70th to level the scores at 1-1 after David King’atua put Bandari ahead in the 42nd.

Parity lasted only five minutes as Shaban Kenga grabbed the eventual winner for the Dockers. Muhoroni remain fifth on 28 as Bandari moved up to 11 on 23.

Tags:

Nairobi City Stars tusker fc. GOR MAHIA Kenyan Premier League football Collins 'Gatuso' Okoth

Want to send us a story? Submit on Wananchi Reporting on the Citizen Digital App or Send an email to wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke or Send an SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp on 0743570000

Leave a Comment

Comments

No comments yet.

latest stories