Dennis Oliech scored twice to inspire defending champions Gor Mahia to an emphatic 4-0 win over Zoo Kericho in an entertaining SportPesa Premier League (SPL) match played at the Green Stadium on Wednesday.
The win saw K'Ogalo complete a double over Zoo having thrashed them with the same scoreline in the first leg and moved to second in the log past Bandari with 35 points.
The defending champions are now one point behind leaders Sofapaka and two points ahead of Bandari with three games in hand ahead of their next game with Kariobangi Sharks.
Dennis Oliech's double and a goal each by Kenneth Miguna and Nicholas Kipkirui were enough to seal the win for the champions after a good show in the CAF Confederations Cup.
The defending champions started the match on a high tempo after the goal post saved the host from conceding a second-minute goal after Dennis Kawanga directed George Odhiambo's cross to his own goal.
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Seven minutes later, Ekisa Ssekisambu missed a chance to put Gor ahead from inside the box after shooting wide.
The champions kept pushing forward with attacks and finally got their opener in the 18th minute when Kenneth Miguna beat Martin Elungat in goal with a spectacular free-kick.
Miguna then turned provider for Gor Mahia's second two minutes later finding former Harambee Stars striker Oliech who beat Elungat from the centre of the box.
Zoo did not lose their momentum and kept pushing forward for a goal and were awarded a penalty in the 38th minute after Sammy Onyango handled in the box.
However, Danson Chetambe shot was stopped by Shaban Odhoji who kept the visitors 2-0 lead intact.
And before the break, Ssekisambu gifted Odhiambo with a fine through ball after a well-calculated counter-attack and the winger failed to give the leaders a 3-0 halftime lead shooting wide in a one on one with the Zoo stopper.
In the second half, the visitors continued to dominate the match with Miguna, Oliech and Onyango each coming close to adding a third.
Captain of the day Dennis Oliech then missed a chance to extend Gor's lead from the spot in the 60th minute after blazing his shot over the bar.
Gor coach Hassan Oktay then introduced Zoo's own prodigal son Nicholas Kipkirui at the half-hour mark and the striker did not disappoint after rounding off the keeper and slotting the visitors' third goal of the day in the 80th minute.
Oliech then redeemed himself with his second goal of the day a minute later after a founding himself unmarked beating Elungat again from the penalty box area.
Oktay praised his team for the clean sheet after rotating his squad.
"We played very well even after making several changes and am happy we managed a clean sheet," he said.
