Gor open a nine-point lead after Ulinzi win

Samuel Onyango came back to haunt his former club as he scored late on to give Gor Mahia FC a 2-1 victory over Ulinzi Stars at Nakuru’s Afraha Stadium on Monday.

Erisa Ssekisambu gave Gor dream start with a lightning fast opener, beating goalkeeper James Saruni after just 40 seconds with a header after Francis Mustapha had picked him out.

But Enosh Ochieng hit back for the hosts after tapping in Elvis Nandwa’s header back across goal in the 77th minute leaving the match set up for Onyango to score the winner 10 minutes later.

The result pushed Gor nine points clear on top of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) standings on 58 points and the champions can extend that gap to 12 if they win their game in hand.

On soggy Afraha patch, Gor needed seconds to find the breakthrough as Ssekisambu’s run into the area was spotted by Mustapha and the Ugandan planted it beyond Saruni with a fine header.

Mustapha found himself clear on goal after a swift counter but defender Boniface Okinyi made a timely recovery to thwart him. The Burundian’s skewed a shot wide off the mark moments later after he had been set up by Nicholas Kipkirui.

The hosts had barely threatened before they were gifted a glorious chance to make it 1-1 when goalkeeper Shaban Odhoji mistimed a ball but Joash Onyango was there to mop up with Omar Boraafya lurking.

The opening minutes of the second half were characterized by unhinged pieces of play with the state of the pitch playing into with the first real threat coming through Hashim Sempala.

The former Tusker FC player’s fierce drive from a free-kick was hit straight at Saruni who did well to hold on to it before the Ugandan had another left-footed attempt fly just wide after Boniface Omondi had teed him up.

Kipkirui was enjoying plenty of room to work in at the left channel and should have doubled his side’s advantage after beating three defenders but his shot with his weaker left foot was always rising.

He then beat three defenders down the left but his cutback was easily intercepted by George Omondi before the hosts had a set-piece figured out by Gor’s captain on the day Wellington Ochieng.

TEAM LINE-UPS
Gor Mahia FC: 
Starting XI:

Shaban Odhoji (GK), Wellington Ochieng, Shafik Batambuze, Joash Onyango, Joachim Oluoch, Ernest Wendo, Boniface Omondi, Hashim Sempala, Francis Mustafa, Erisa Ssekisambu, Nicholas Kipkirui

Subs: Frederick Odhiambo (GK), Geofrey Ochieng, Pascal Ogweno, Bernard Odhiambo, Samuel Onyango, Jacques Tuyisenge, Dennis Oliech

Ulinzi Stars FC
Starting XI:

James Saruni (GK), Brian Birgen, George Omondi, Bonaventure Muchika, Harun Mwale, Boniface Okinyi, Ibrahim Shambi, Omar Boraafya, Elvis Nandwa, Enosh Ochieng, Oscar Wamalwa

Subs: Timothy Odhiambo (GK), Mohamed Hassan, Boniface Andayi, Bernard Ongoma, John Njuguna, Okare Ezekiel, Churchill Muloma.

Tags:

GOR MAHIA Ulinzi Stars 2-1 victory nine points Samuel Onnayngo

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