Gor Mahia lose to Everton in landmark Goodison friendly

Gor Mahia lose to Everton in landmark Goodison friendly

A flurry of mistakes, late in the game, proved costly for Kenyan giants Gor Mahia as they fell 4-0 to Everton FC of England in a landmark friendly match played on Tuesday night under chilly conditions at Goodison Park in Liverpool.

Despite holding well in the first 15 minutes, K’Ogalo  allowed their defence to be breached in the 16th minute when Ademola Lookman put the Toffees ahead, completing a free-flowing move by a simple tap-in to beat Gor Mahia’s goalie Boniface Oluoch from close range.

K’Ogalo playing without lead talisman, Jacques Tuyisenge, who failed to make the trip as a result of a visa hitch, went 2-0 down in the 23rd minute when Everton executed a ruthless counter-attack culminating in a superbly taken goal by Kieran Dowell, beating Olouch to his right near post.

When it seemed the scoreline would end at 2-0 , K’Ogalo capitulated late, late in the game as quick fire strikes from

Nathan Broadhead and Oumar Niase ensured the Toffees recorded a crushing victory at home.

Oluoch, in his usual lethargy, gave Gor fans some butterflies thanks to his shaky goalkeeping that could have seen Everton claim a third goal before the half-hour mark .

Gor Mahia coach, Dylan Kerr, keen to gauge his charges readiness after the season break, and with the crucial Caf-Champions League on the horizon, elected to field his strongest squad available, Oluoch manning the goalposts, protected by Karim Nizigiyimana, Joash Onayngo, skipper Harun Shakava and new signing Shafik Batambuze.

Ernest Wendo, Philemon Otieno,Samuel Onyango and Francis Kahata — claimed the midfield roles with George’ Blackberry’ Odhiambo and Francis Kahata ­– playing deep in the opposition territories as strikers but it is the Mustapha who made the most runs at the Toffees defence moreso in the first-half.

The Kenyan side, in UK by virtue of winning the Super Cup early this year had its chances too that would have seen them shake Everton’s net, most poignantly, in the 5th minute, when Mustapha was neatly picked out in the box by a looping Francis Kahata pass but he fired off target when the goal was at his mercy.

Though Gor lost the match, there is more to gain than to lose as it served as an eye-opener and an avenue through which to showcase their skills to the outside world.

Everton Starting Eleven

Maarten Stekelenburg, Mason Holgate,Leighton baines, Phil Jagielka, Yerry Mina,Morgan Schneriderlin, Tom Davies,Kieran Dowell,Ademola Lookman,Dominic  Calvert-Lewin,Cenk Tosun

Substitutes

Joao Virginia,James McCarthy, Ounar Niasse, Beni Baningime, Nathan Broadhead,Anthony Gordon, Kyle  John

Gor Mahia Starting Eleven 

Boniface Oluoch, Karim Nizigiyimana, Shafik Batambuze, Joash Onyango, Haron Shakava, Ernest Wendo, Samuel Onyango, Philemon Otieno, Francis Mustapha , Francis Kahata, George Odhiambo

Substitutes
Shaban Odhoji, Peter Odhiambo, Charles Momanyi, Joachim Oluoch, Wesley Onguso, Wellington Ochieng, Humprey Mieno, Boniface Omondi, Lawrence Juma, Kevin Omondi, Cercidy Okeyo, Bernard Ondiek, Eliud Lokuwam

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GOR MAHIA Everton Goodison Park friendly match

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