Gor too good for the ‘old enemy’

Gor Mahia pulled one over the eternal rivals beating AFC Leopards 1-0 on Sunday afternoon at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru to win the 2018 Kenyan Premier League Super Cup.

Towering Harun Shakava began life as a Gor Mahia captain in the most sparkling of ways rising high to thump in the ball in the 40th minute from a George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo to seal the victory.

Odhiambo passed the ball to Wellington Ochieng, who escaped attention from the Leopards defenders with his teammate returning the favour. He found enough space to run into and lifted the ball across the face of goal. Shakava was on hand to thump it past Andika. A real captain’s contribution.

It was sweet as it came for K’Ogalo while for Ingwe it was disappointing losing the crown moreso to the bitter rivals.

The first half was otherwise scrappy with Gor pressing high but Leopards playing guarded at the back as they tried to defend their lines.

Walusimbi’s cross-cum-shot nearly caught Leopards goalie Gabriel Andika napping but he showed quick reflexes to push it for a corner in the early intervals.

With the tactical formations limiting the scoreline, Gor coach Dylan Kerr threw his new signing Ephrem Guikan into the fray as the Ivorian replaced Sports Writers 2017 Player of the Year Meddie Kagere who had been isolated for much of the game.

At one point in the second half, the match nearly denegerated into a fist fight in the second half as Collins ‘Gattusso’ Okoth and Ernest Wendo squared up at the middle after the former Gor midfielder felt a challenge on him had been intentionally too heavy.

Leopards defender Abdalla Salim and Gor’s midfielder Humphrey Mieno Mieno also had a harsh exchange of words but the referee was on hand to control the situation with the former Tusker man going into the books.

It was his last piece of action as Kerr introduced a second defensive midfielder, Philemon Otieno, to see out the match.

In the last quarter of the game, Leopards won a freekick in a promising position but Henry Uche’s attempt flew wide off the mark.

Gor should have had the second goal with four minutes left on the clock but Francis Kahata headed straight into Andika’s hands from six yards out.

From it, Matano’s charges then launched a counter attack but Uche was guilty yet again – failing to find the target as he rushed his shot after being played through by Joseph Kuria.

“It was a good match but we lost concentration which cost us .I’m however happy  that we contained Gor Mahia and we’ll perform better…,” defiant Leopards coach Robert Matano said in a post-match interview.