Gor draw blanks at stubborn Ulinzi Stars

SportPesa Premier League champions, Gor Mahia’s hunt for a first win of the season will extend to their next game after being forced to a barren draw at the home of fellow giants, Ulinzi Stars in their Thursday clash at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru.

In their first game since crashing out of in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, Frank Nuttall’s all conquering side of last season came unstuck against the resolute soldiers who finished as their bridesmaids as they picked their third point in three matches in their pursuit of an unprecedented fourth successive crown.

With Sunday’s Mashemeji Derby against their eternal rivals, AFC Leopards that is in doubt due to security concerns looming, K’Ogalo are stuck on 11th place in the early season’s log with Ingwe joint top with the pendulum appearing to shift the force to the Den.

Leopards laid their cards on the table by silencing pre-season title challenging hopefuls, Bandari FC in Nairobi on Wednesday and pressure was on the champions to fashion a huge response by beating Ulinzi, a team that is yet to taste defeat this term.

The draw means K’Ogalo trail league leaders Mathare United by four points as Ulinzi closed gap to within two points of the front runners after missing a chance to fire to the summit with victory.

This was the fifth competitive match for K’Ogalo without a win this season having netted only twice through Enock Agwanda, the striker who was used mostly as a substitute last season but has graduated to the front after the departure to Sweden of their top scorer in 2015, Michael Olunga.

Gor had their first real chance at the half hour mark after a slow burner start in Nakuru, with Francis Kahata’s powerful low drive being parried out by James Saruni in the Ulinzi goal as defender Geoffrey Kokoyo raced to hack away the danger.

The former FK Tirana midfielder who deployed just behind the lone striker Agwanda, found plenty of spaces to roam and fired over when Ugandan Godfrey Walusimbi picked him up in the 18th minute.

Ulinzi were quiet in almost the entire first half but sparked to life just before the break, with their goals poacher John Mark Makwata guilty of denying the hosts the lead after being stopped twice by captain Jerim Onyango who once again mounted a scintillating last stand defence in the K’Ogalo goal.

Makwata saw his curler from a 42nd minute free kick stopped by a fully stretched Onyango, before failing again in a one-on-one situation with the keeper a minute later as the opening period ended 0-0.

The soldiers came out stronger in the second half to dominate the clash, keeping Gor’s custodian Onyango busy and forcing him into smart saves as the champions once again trailed off.

In the 62nd, Ulinzi defender Omar Mbongi, stopped Agwanda’s run towards goal after the striker left keeper Saruni for dead as K’Ogalo spurned their biggest opportunity of the match to nick victory they scarcely deserved.

Another presentable chance for Gor came in the 68th when Walusimbi volleyed just inches over the bar.

Home team coach, Robert Matano brought on Churchill Muloma for Joseph Kuria and Daniel Waweru for John Nairuka as he sensed the titleholders were there for the taking.

Ulinzi upped the tempo with Makwatta having and spurning three close chances the first a short with his weaker left foot and another  effort flying straight to Onyango.

That set the stage for a grandstand finish as the soldiers laid siege on the K’Ogalo goal but Onyango was unyielding, proving to be the solid last line of defence that saved his team from leaving Afraha empty handed.

The custodian who won his place back from Harambee Stars keeper, Boniface Olouch, strongly palmed away a stinging shot from Muloma that was destined to the net after being set up by Makwatta.

Ulinzi and Makwatta came even closer four minutes to the final whistle when his free kick from the edge of the area rolled over the cross bar with Kevin Amwayi squandering a final opportunity when he sent his left footer from close range inches wide of the post.

This stalemate comes just two days before the Mashemeji Derby with Gor having all to prove against resurgent Leopards who will go to the match, provided it’s given the all clear, fancying their chances.

Report by Jacob Icia