Irrepressible Gor put CAF Cup quarters in view

Gor Mahia FC raced to top of Group D as they took a huge leap toward securing their place in the CAF Confederation Cup qurter-finals following their 3-2 victory over Yanga SC at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

The win took Gor’s points tally to eight, one more than second-placed USM Alger who could yet seize back their Group lead when they host Rayon Sports later Sunday at the Stade Omar Hamadi in the Algerian capital.

Gor made the best possible start to match when George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo capped a rapid move with super-fast opening goal to leave Yanga’s fading CAF hopes in tatters inside just 38 seconds.

Jacques Tuyisenge, scorer of the opener 10 days ago against the same opposition in Nairobi, then doubled Gor’s advantage at the stroke of half time to give the visitors took a healthy lead going to the break.

Coach Dylan Kerr had rejigged the squad that started in that first leg to accommodate Samuel Onyango and Kevin ‘Ade’ Omondi both of whom in Gor’s mid-week Shield assignment against Posta Rangers.

That change and the fatigue eating into a team playing its fourth match in nine days meant Gor were less imposing against their Tanzanian opponents and the hosts made it 2-1 in the 59th courtesy of Deus Kaseke’s strike.

Shakava restored Gor’s two-goal cushion five minutes later with a rare right foot finish before substitute Raphael Loth made it 3-2 to set up a tense final 10 minutes.