Gor collects sweetened points from Nzoia Sugar

Gor Mahia FC took advantage of slip-ups from their opponents as they defeated Nzoia Sugar 3-1 to open up a six-point lead at the summit of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) standings.

Striker Jacques Tuyisenge hit a double with each split between either half with Humphrey Mieno also on target. Meanwhile, Kevin Juma stepped off the bench to score a late consolation for the hosts.

Mathare United had passed up the opportunity to cut the gap on the league leaders when they drew 1-1 with Vihiga United on Saturday and Gor needed no second invitation to throw more momentum behind their title defence bid.

Coach Dylan Kerr had left out Francis Kahata from the starting line-up but his creativity was hardly missed as Gor simply overpowered Nzoia to take their points tally to 40 from their opening 16 rounds.

Sofapaka FC had earlier dislodged Mathare United from second place when they defeated Thika United 3-0 in Narok with Ulinzi Stars and Bandari FC battling to a barren draw at Nakuru’s Afraha Stadium.

At the Ruaraka grounds in Nairobi, Justine Omary’s last-minute own goal capped a dramatic finish as Tusker FC settled for a 1-1 draw with Wazito FC as the visitors earned their first point in seven matches.

Gor showed early intent when Godfrey Walusimbi put Meddie Kagere  clear with a clever ball but the striker was flagged offside before pulling the trigger.

The hosts responded with two quick attacks but both efforts from David Odhiambo and Edgar Nzano were off target.

Kagere went close in the 14th after he was picked out by his attacking partner Tuyisenge before the former also missed a header from just outside the six-yard area.

Goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch was forced into his first save of the afternoon when he dived sharply to his right to push Odhiambo’s strike round the post for corner.

Only a goal was missing to cap a lively opening half-hour and Tuyisenge provided just that in the 33rd minute, taking George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo’s pass and placing it into Benson Mangala’s far post.

Gor thus took a deserved lead into the breather with Boniface Omondi, who replaced Kahata in the starting eleven, seizing the opportunity to impress with the league top scorer Elvis Rupia enduring a quiet half.

Whatever game-plan Nzoia had discussed during the break was thrown into disarray when Mieno doubled the visitors’ advantage from a header just three minutes into the second half.

Kagere should have stretched the lead but his one-time strike of Omondi’s ball went just wide but Tuyisenge did extend it from a header to put the game beyond Nzoia’s reach.

Kerr’s men eased on the gas, allowing Nzoia to create more attacking chances and it took Walusimbi’s heroic goal-line clearance to keep the result at 3-0.

Their was no keeping them out in the third minute of stoppage time thanks to Juma’s strike as Oluoch was finally beaten.

Collated Results

Tusker 1-1 Wazito FC

Nakumatt 6-1 KK Homeboyz

K Sharks 1-0 Posta Rangers

N Sugar 1-3 Gor Mahia

Sofapaka 3-0  Thika United

Ulinzi Stars 0-0 Bandari