More menace on the pitch as Oliech strikes

Legendary striker Dennis ‘The Menace’ Oliech got his grand return to club football off the mark as he hit the winner in Gor Mahia FC’s 2-1 victory over Posta Rangers at the Kasarani Stadium on Wednesday.

Gor took an early lead thanks to Charles Momanyi’s controversial opener in which Posta goalkeeper Levis Opiyo was left dazed and eventually stretchered off injured following a goal-line melee in the build up to the opener.

The goal stood despite animated protests from Posta although the visiting team did get the equalizer 14 minutes later when Francis Nambute beat Frederick Odhiambo with a superb finish.

There was still time for another goal before the break, with Oliech showing some natural finisher’s instincts to pounce on a loose ball inside the six-yard area and poked it home for a simple finish that marked his first goal in a Gor jersey.

Gor lost a number of open chances in the opening minutes of the game with Francis Kahata curving a nice corner cross that ended up hitting the cross bar in the 4th minute of the game.

Cercidy Okeyo was the play maker with Charles Momanyi and Wellington Ochieng manning the seemingly shaky defense.

Pascal Ogweno should have been withdrawn earlier in the game following repeated defensive errors and lack of speed to pursue the speedy and penetrating Rangers strikers consisting of Nambute and Brian Osumba.

It was not until the 26th minute when the towering defender Charles Momanyi headed home a Francis Kahata corner to give Gor the first goal, in a tussle that left Rangers goalkeeper Levis Opiyo injured. He ended up being stretched off the field of play.

Dennis Oliech (right), is tackled by Posta Rangers’ Danson Kago during their Kenyan Premier League match at the Kasarani Stadium, Nairobi on January 9, 2019. Gor Mahia FC won 2-1 Photo/Kelly Ayodi/ sportpicha

Rangers striker  Osumba was pulled down in the box in the 39th minute but the centre referee signaled play-on. Nambuye capitalised on Ogweno’s defensive error to tap home a cross for an equalizer.

Three minutes later, Oliech scored his comeback goal for the KPL champions from a goal melee in the Rangers goal mouth. The two teams went to the breather with Gor leading 2-1.

When the second half resumed, Gor defense seemed stronger following the earlier introduction of Joachim Oluoch  who rested Ogweno,  a few minutes to the breather. Rangers dropped Joseph Nyaga and introduced Ken Mutembei in the 55th minute, bringing a sense of equilibrium in the clash.

Oliech could have pushed K’Ogalo further with a third goal in the 57th minute but missed a well slotted cross by Kahata.