Gor break City hearts as Sofapaka hold Tusker and Bandari beat Muhoroni

Shaban Kenga [left] of Bandari and Paul Wachika of Muhoroni youth fight for control of the ball during sportpesa Premier league played at Mbaraki sports club in Mombasa. Bandari won 2--0. 24th July 2016. Photo Omondi Onyango/Standard

Gor Mahia midfielder Collins Okoth made a stunning return from injury as his last-gasp strike delivered a hard fought 2-1 over Nairobi City Stars needed to narrow the gap on the Kenyan Premier League leaders Tusker, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Sofapaka in Machakos on Sunday.

Having watched the brewers struggle, coming from behind to share the spoils with relegation threatened Batoto Ba Mungu in an early kick off, Gor didn't want to repeat the same mistake they did against Ushuru (1-1) last weekend.

After a frustrating 1-1 first half draw and with 90 minutes up, the unexpected happened when Okoth pounced on Enock Agwanda's long throw ball to break City Stars' resistance to move three points behind Tusker (37).

Gor had gone ahead in the 22nd minute through Harun Shakava's thunderous effort only for his celebrations to be cut short by Ezekiel Odera's equaliser a minute later.

City Stars could have taken the lead in the fifth minute, but Gor Mahia goalkeeper Bonface Oluoch did well to deny them the opener before Meddie Kagere missed a precious scoring opportunity from Eric Ouma's cross.

An impressive Ouma then forced a fine save from City Stars goalkeeper Ronny Kagunzi for a fruitless corner in the ninth minute.

In the 12th minute, Jimmy Bageya darted down the left flank only for his effort to be saved by Gor goalkeeper.

Gor had a chance to go in front in the 20th minute but Jacques Tuyisenge feeble header went directly into Kagunzi's hands.

However two minutes later, Shakava broke the deadlock, unleashing a powerful shot in the box that flew past hapless Ronnie Kagunzi in City's goal.

But Shakava's celebrations were short lived as Ezekiel Odera comfortably controlled the ball in the box before side-footing the ball past Oluoch from a close range.

Moments later, Tuyisenge saw his well curved free kick hit the side netting before Franklin Osama headed away Karim Nizigiyimana's dangerous cross.

In the 34th minute, Kagere's header was deflected for a corner which a City defender was lucky not to have found in his own net.

Gor could have regained the lead on the stroke of halftime, but Tuyisenge's header rattled the crossbar.

Gor coach Jose Marcelo made his first substitution on restart, bringing on Baron Jobita for Innocent Wafula.

It was not until stoppage time that Gor's numerous raids finally paid off in the stoppage time, thanks to Collins Okoth's goal from Enock Agwanda's long throw ball.

Elsewhere, Sofapaka secured their second consecutive draw after sharing the spoils with league leaders Tusker (1-1) in Machakos as Bandari stunned visiting Muhoroni Youth 2-1 in Mombasa.

Struggling Batoto Ba Mungu went ahead through Moses Odhiambo's 21st minute header before Ugandan defender Shafiq Batambuze snatched a point for the Brewers midway through the second half.

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