Gor sink Muhoroni to put KPL title heat back on Tusker

Over to you Tusker FC! That was the emphatic message Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions, Gor Mahia sent to their rivals for the crown with an emphatic 2-0 victory over Muhoroni Youth on Saturday as the latest chapter in the gripping climax to the title race unfolded at Moi Stadium in Kisumu.

Rwandese duo, Jacques Tuyisenge and Meddie Kagere found the net in the ninth and 32nd minutes of a fast paced opening half to silence the KPL Top 8 winners as K’Ogalo exacted revenge on the side that denied them a first trophy of the season.

Victory saw Gor increase their tally to 54 points, one behind log leaders Tusker who take on AFC Leopards on Sunday in Nakuru for the chance to be crowned champions ahead of the final day of the season next weekend.

Any other outcome besides a win for Tusker will make the November 19 showdown between the K’Ogalo and the Brewers a straight shoot-out for the title and as soon as the final whistle went, Gor head Brazilian head coach, Jose ‘Ze Maria’ Ferreira made an impassioned plea to their eternal rivals Leopards to ‘play their part.’

“Today is good game for us. We played football in the first and second half, tried to win and play the touches, create the space, this is modern football,” the former Selecao defender said.

His opposite number Tom Juma rued the chances his side spurned in the first half declaring Muhoroni did not deserve defeat.

“We played even better than the last one. We had good possession of the ball but the final delivery was lacking. Had we scored one or two goals, this game would have been different,” the former Gor midfielder rued.

Knowing only a victory would do, the champions who have build a good head of steam in winning their last three games on the bounce went on the offensive from the start.

The Ksh4m striker, Tuyisenge who broke his 13-game scoring duck last weekend in their 2-1 win over Mathare came close to opening the scoring after four minutes but he fluffed his line allowing Muhoroni keeper, Farouk Shikalo to gather the pieces with ease.

Recalled full-back Karim Nizigiyimana was causing trouble in the flanks and he brought out his operating manual from last season to this game moments later.

The Burundian waltzed through the Muhoroni rear-guard like a ballet dancer with a couple of step-overs before his cross was almost turned in by Muhoroni defender Yusuf Mohammed for an own-goal with Kagere ghosting on the far post.

Muhoroni did not heed the danger and soon, they fell behind.

Francis Kahata found the space to fire in a cross that was turned to Tuyisenge’s path by Kagere to tap in the opener with Shikalo powerless as his defenders allowed the Rwanda striker the freedom of the box by leaving him unmarked.

The Top 8 champions clanked to life, stringing the palms of K’Ogalo keeper Boniface Oluoch through skipper Francis Ocholla and Benjamin Mosha but back came Gor to double their advantage soon after the half-hour mark.

Tuyisenge this time turned provider after neat build-up with Kagere for the latter to be left with the simple task of sending the champions further ahead.

After the break, both teams huffed and puffed with Tuyisenge coming close twice from adding gloss to the scoreline before Muhoroni striker, Lwamba Bebeto was lucky to receive only a yellow card after a foul from behind and tirade against the referee.

Ze Maria brought on Jacob Keli and Amos Nondi for George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo and Kahata in a bid to maintain the attacking intensity as the heat took its toll but Muhoroni posed no further threat as the champions ran out comfortable.