Gor sink Leopards, Ulinzi edges Thika in five-goal thriller

Goals in the first half from Meddie Kagere and George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo set Gor Mahia FC en route to a 3-0 win over arch-rivals AFC Leopards as the record Kenyan Premier League (KPL) titleholders returned to winning ways on Sunday.

A late strike from Timothy Otieno added gloss to a cruising victory, and it was a resounding way to get their championship bid back on track after the 15-time champions had suffered a shock 1-0 defeat against Mathare United in the previous round.

The Nyayo National Stadium, yet still under renovation, had been opened up to specifically host this customarily volatile clash and it is the men in Green and their adoring fans that will take home the bragging rights having ruled the first leg of the Mashemeji Derby.

At the Thika Sub-County Stadium, Ulinzi Stars edged a five goal thriller 3-2 against Thika United. The visitors made life difficult for themselves when it should have been comfortable win.

Having led 3-0 after only 23 minutes, Ulinzi seemed on course for a crushing victory but the hosts roared back. Thika’s Eugene Mukangula missed from the spot just seven minutes before the break but nothing could hold off their charge after the restart as Christopher Oruchum quickly made in 3-1.

The hosts suffered a numerical disadvantage after Sammy Mejja was sent off for a second bookable offence but there was time for Francis Kinyua to squeeze one right at the death.

The fightback ended in vain, leaving James’ Nandwa’s men second from the bottom and without a win in their last five fixtures. They have lost four in those outings.

Perhaps the upset result of the day was delivered by Zoo Kericho FC whose 2-0 win over Western Stima saw them climb off the relegation zone for the first time this season.

Having slumped to four consecutive defeats since the start of 2017 top flight season, Zoo had been earmarked as the early relegation candidates but have since picked up from the pieces to embark on a run of a similar number of games without defeat.

A shock 2-1 win over four-time winners Ulinzi on away turf underlined their credentials as a team worthy of competing on the big stage and Sunday’s result marks the first time they did not concede a goal.

Bernard ‘Nado’ Odhiambo had scored with the last minute of play in the first half to give them the advantage at the break before midfielder Mike Madoya doubled their lead in the minutes after the restart.