Gor dares Esperance with easy stroll over Bandari

Champions Gor Mahia FC bounced back to winning ways as they swatted aside Bandari FC 2-0 at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Saturday afternoon to storm to the summit of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) standings on 13 points, three more than second-placed Mathare United.

Goals from Wesley Onguso and Meddie Kagere were enough to see off the visitors as Gor shook off their midweek disappointment, a barren draw against eleven-time champions Tusker.

Head coach Dylan Kerr had repeatedly taken aim at the KPL schedulers over his side’s lack of rest on the back of a 0-0 draw at home to Tusker FC on Thursday but his charges showed no sign of fatigue as they took the game by the scruff of its neck, right at the start

The Dockers had not conceded a single goal this season and in Gor who have plundered in four or more goals in at least two matches, they had the perfect opposition against which to test the solidity of their backline.

Jacques Tuyisenge, who had been recalled to partner Meddie Kagere in the starting line-up in place of Ivorian Ephrem Guikan, was presented with the first chance of the game but his header went just wide.

Francis Kahata then created another opportunity, this time for Kagere but it was again squandered as the Ugandan-born Rwandese headed off-target.

Gor’s high pressing play continued to put Bandari on the back foot and they went close again through Tuyisenge whose headed effort from a corner was pushed back into play.

Ernest Wendo was in the right position to pick it up and attempt an effort at goal but had little chance as the visiting defence closed in quickly to force him into a rushed shot with his weaker left foot.

Gor’s momentum was halted when Wellington Ochieng was forced off after sustaining a knock with Wesley Onguso coming on in his place in the 25th minute.

Gor Mahia warms up to their Wednesday Caf -Champions League match against Esperance of Tunisia with a 2-0 win over Bandari in a KPL match at the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos.

The substitute brought the breakthrough Gor needed as his left foot strike took a deflection off defender Felly Mulumba’s shin to leave goalkeeper Farouk Shikhalo with little chance of saving it at his near post after he had gone wide to cover his left.

Kahata was the creator in chief and Bandari will have themselves to blame for allowing him to much room to pick out his man with a beautifully weighted pass into Onguso’s path.

It was a deserved lead for Gor with just four minutes left before the break and picked from where they had left upon resumption.

Kagere’s persistent running paid off as Shikhalo’s mistimed run to block left the striker with a gaping goal in the 61st minute and all he had to do was just poke the ball into the net. Shikhalo appeared to had taken a slight slip on the wet turf and Kagere simply tapped it in for 2-0.

The best chance for Bandari fell to substitute Boniface Akenga in the 66th but he headed straight at Boniface Oluoch who had been vastly untested all match.

Boniface Omondi then tested Shikhalo from inside the 18-yard area but the goalkeeper dived sharply to his right to keep the scoreline close.

At the Sudi Stadium, hosts Nzoia Sugar FC defeated Kakamega Homeboyz 3-1 for only their first KPL thanks an inspiring hat trick from Elvis Rupia.

Collated Results

Sofapaka 2-1 Posta Rangers

Gor Mahia 2-0 Bandari

Vihiga United 0-0 Nakumatt

Chemelil Sugar 2-1 Zoo Kericho

Nzoia Sugar 3-0 Kakamega Homeboyz