Super sub Diallo the hero as Leopards sink Gor

Substitute Lamine Diallo is the new hero at Ingwe’s Den after firing AFC Leopards to the summit of the SportPesa Premier League (SPL) with a classic winning goal in their 1-0 defeat of the old enemy and champions, Gor Mahia, during Sunday’s fast-paced Mashemeji Derby.

Diallo beat K’Ogalo captain Jerim Onyango with an unstoppable peach of a shot in the 83rd minute to leave the three-peat champions without victory this season as Leopards climbed above overnight leaders, Tusker FC to the top of the SPL table on ten points.

Victory had the added bonus for Leopards since it ended Gor’s 35-match unbeaten streak in the top flight, a run stretching since they lost 3-2 to Sofapaka on October 26, 2014 in Machakos.

The loss left Gor languishing in 12th and head coach, Frank Nuttal still winless in the Mashemeji Derby in an outcome that will intensify pressure on his reign at the club he led to back-to-back SPL titles in 2014 and 15.

His opposite number, Belgian Ivan Minnaert continues his dream start to his Ingwe career with the resounding victory over the archenemy at Safaricom Stadium in Kasarani giving the strongest indication yet the pendulum was swinging to Leopards favour after being put to the shade by K’Ogalo in the past three seasons.

Gor, who were chasing a first victory of the season, shaded proceedings in the opening first hour before Leopards grew into the game that was a physical affair before half-time, with Lucas Indeche the busier of the two keepers.

In a sparsely filled 60,000 stadium, K’Ogalo forced the first chance with 60 seconds on the clock when Luke Ochieng made Indeche palm away a sting shot out for a corner.

Then it was the turn of Innocent Wafula to work the Ingwe custodian in the fourth minute when Indeche cleared his effort at goal for a corner swung in by fellow midfielder, Francis Kahata again with no reward.

In their first notable attack, Leopards had appeals for a penalty turned down by the referee before Wafula, who was growing in prominence raced inside the box but his finish was dealt with by Indeche in the 13th.

-Wafula comes closer-

After a dangerous cross into the Leopard’s box was dealt with by the keeper, Wafula came even closer when he was put through by Kahata only to unload a tame shot that was comfortably held by Indeche.

Another promising break into the Ingwe box saw Nutall’s K’Ogalo awarded a free-kick in a promising position and Kahata took responsibility, forcing Indeche into a diving save with Ugandan midfielder, Godfrey Walusimbi firing the rebound when the ball got to him harmlessly wide.

In the 23rd Clifton Miheso was well picked on the right side and his shot floated inches wide of Jerim Onyango’s goal as the K’Ogalo captain heaved a huge sigh of relief in what would have been totally against the run of play.

Sensing his side were losing the midfield battle, new Leopard’s boss, Belgian Ivan Minnaert, hauled off Alfred Wekesa and brought on Allan Katerrega in a tactical switch meant to give his attackers better service in the 29th.

Onyango was called upon to keep the champion’s interest in the game intact when he held on to a well taken Andrew Tololwa free-kick as Ingwe started getting out of their shells a minute later as the change appeared to bring the desired effect.

In the 36th Miheso dropped a deep cross in the box from the left but there was no Ingwe teammate to finish it off with Gor’s defence all at sea before Walusimbi entered the referee’s book for a crunching tackle on Ongoma.

K’Ogalo managed to spring forward five minutes to the break when Wafula found Walusimbi in the box from the left but the Ugandan’s header went wide before the pair combined again in the 43rd but they were undone by a communication breakdown that saw the latter miss a guilt edged opportunity to open the scoring.

Kateregga corner a minute to half time was cleared by Musa Mohammed at the heart of the champion’s defence before two minutes were added on in which Wafula once again got through on goal from a pass from the middle but could not beat Indeche.

Minnaert made his second change as the teams prepared to renew their battle in the final 45, bringing on Yusuf Juma for the ineffectual Andrew Diego.

After the breather, Wafula fashioned the first opportunity of the closing half when he let rip a powerful shot that was blocked superbly by Indeche in the 54th before his teammate Odhiambo aimed at goal but Ongoma cleared the danger.

-The decisive moment-

Kahata then wasted a clean sniff at goal when he was connected by Walusimbi five minutes later in a bright start by the champions before Leopards responded by tearing upfield and the ball was worked to Andrew Tololwa who unloaded from outside the box but Harun Shakava was there to clear in the 62nd.

Miheso went into the book for clattering Aucho before Kahata found the space to shoot but his effort was repelled by Ambuko.

The referee then took centre stage, warning Indeche for loud protests before refusing to book Aucho when he appeared to blatantly shove Ambuko to the ground.

With 20 minutes to go, Nuttall made his first substitution, bringing forward Enock Agwanda for Wafula with his opposite number responding by playing his last roll of the dice when Lamine Diallo came on for Ambuko.

The new Ingwe sub found Kateregga in the 75th centrally on the right but with the K’Ogalo goal beckoning, he could not find the control as the chance went begging.

Ingwe were slowly turning the screw and two minutes later, Tololwa found Miheso in the box from the left but the forward could not convert and prompted Nutall to throw on former Leopards top scorer, Jacob Keli for Odhiambo in search of the decisive goal and a way to stem the tide.

But in the 83rd, Leopards got the breakthrough their enterprising play deserved when Diallo scored with a thunderbolt to add to his growing stock, sending the Ingwe faithful in the stadium to frenzy and justifying his coach’s decision to bring him on.

Indeche then blocked a Kahata header as Gor attempted to find a response quickly and there was still time for Leopards to add gloss to the final score when Kateregga and Miheso missed presentable chances as the game petered out into time added on.

At the final whistle, jubilant Ingwe fans and players broke into a spirited jig as disappointed Gor were left to pick the ruins of a title defence that is quickly turning into a nightmare.