Gor held as Tusker beat Western Stima, Ulinzi stop Nakuru All stars and Mathare, Sony draw

Gor mahia vs sofapaka fc - KPL.
Gor Mahia midfielder Ali Abondo attempts a shot at goal as Sofapaka's Maurice Odipo closes inr the ball during their KPL match at City Stadium.photo/DENNIS OKEYO
 

Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia recorded their second draw in a row after Sofapaka restricted them to a barren draw, at the City Stadium, yesterday.

Save for the scores, this was a repeat of last year’s second leg clash in Machakos where ugly scenes of hooliganism were witnessed. What had looked like a perfect cocktail was temporarily stopped in the 75th minute after a section of home fans started hurling stones and water bottles on the pitch following centre referee’s decision to book both Fiston Razak and Glay Dirkir, after a scuffle.

However, after the stewards calmed down Gor fans and cleared the pitch, the match resumed.

“Gor fans are disappointing. Since I joined Sofapaka, there has always been teargas whenever we play against them,” said Sofapaka coach Sam Timbe.

“It was a tough game but I am glad to have picked a point. We are taking one game at a time,” he added.

 

CREATED MORE CHANCES

Gor assistant coach Frank Ouna said: “The league is a marathon. One point is good enough and we cant complain. But we should have won this match had we capitalised on our chances. We created more chances than Sofapaka.”

The match started on a high tempo, but it is Gor who threatened first with a second minute corner kick that saw Michael Olunga hit the cross bar. Three minutes later, Olunga had another chance after being set up by Victor Abondo, but he fluffed his shot before Meddie Kagere’s brilliant effort was saved by an impressive Sofapaka goalkeeper David Okello.

Gor continued pilling pressure on the Batoto Ba Mungu backline and they could have taken the lead just before the interval, but Okello pulled off a fine save to deny Innocent Wafula an opener.

 

Kagere then saw his cheeky header from Abondo’s corner on the hour mark go over the bar before Enock Agwanda forced a fine save from Gor keeper Bonface Oluoch.

Moments later, Olunga missed a sitter from Kegere’s perfect cross with Sofapaka responding immediately, but Oluoch saved Anthony Ndolo’s powerful shot.

Agwanda could have snatched a win for the visitors, but his 67th minute goal was ruled offside.

At Moi Stadium Kisumu, Tusker bounced back from midweek’s loss to Bandari to beat Western Stima 3-1 as Mathare United were held to a 1-1 draw by visiting Sony Sugar.

Clifford Alwanga, Humphrey Mieno and captain Jesse Were netted a goal each for the brewers with Dennis Sikhai scoring for the hosts.

It was the same score line at Afraha Stadium as Mark Makwata hit his sixth goal of the season against Nakuru All Stars and helped Ulinzi Stars move up to second place on the table.

Veteran midfielder Hillary Echesa scored in his own net before Stephen Ocholla extended the lead before Geoffrey Maina pulled back a goal for All Stars. In Muhoroni, Thika United edged Chemelil 1-0.

-Reports by Rodgers Eshitemi, Ben Ahenda and Bosco Magare