Gallant Gor Mahia fall to Everton in Tanzania

Everton star Wayne Rooney challenges Gor Mahia players Godfrey Walusimbi (left) Kenneth Muguna and Ernest Wendo (right) during their friendly match in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on July 13, 2017. [Stafford Ondego/www.sportpicha.com]

Kenya’s football giants Gor Mahia gave a good account of themselves before narrowly losing 2-1 to English side Everton in a pre-season friendly match at the 60,000-seater National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Star man Wayne Rooney struck a sumptuous opener before Jaqcues Tuyisenge expertly glanced in -to beat goalkeeper Marten Stekelenburg and even scores going into half time.

Kieran Dowell blasted home the winner in the 77th minute as Everton’s quality began to show.

Gor Mahia started the match with a lot of vigour and adventure by producing splendid display with Tuyisenge and Kenneth Muguna combining well upfront.

Rooney, signed from Manchester United, was not given time to breathe as he was closely marked by captain Musa Mohamed.

The crowd went wild when Rooney was awarded a free-kick in the 12th minute, which custodian Boniface Oluoch held firmly in his hands.

Both teams cooled down the game after 15 minutes as they opted for short passes.

In the 20th minute, as medics attended to injured Ernest Wendo an overzealous fan of Rooney sprinted from the crowd straight to the field to hug him before security personnel whisked him away.

After 30 minutes of play, Everton shifted gears with Ademola Lookman and Davy Klaasen linking up but were thwarted by K’Ogalo’s solid defence.

Then Rooney’s moment of individual brilliance came when he ejected fans from their seats, with a brilliantly taken goal in the 34th minute.

Gor Mahia replied almost instantly when Tuyisenge headed home Kenneth Muguna’s corner kick to beat Stekelenburg.

The goal buoyed Gor Mahia, with George Odhiambo and Medie Kagere going close

In the second half, Everton Manager Ronald Koeman rested the entire starting line-up.

Gor coach Dylan Kerr rested keeper Oluoch, Karim Nizigiyimana, Medie Kagere, Musa Mohammed, Tuyisenge, Kagere and brought in Frederick Odhiambo, Francis Kahata, Jean Baptiste, Wellington Ochieng and Innocent Simiyu among other new signings.

Everton’s second half team looked more settled as they played with a lot of purpose.

Gor Mahia also grew in confidence in the last 20 minutes, but were caught unawares when Dowell unleashed a powerful shot past an impressive Odhiambo in the 77th minute.

Gor Mahia had a chance to equalise, but Wafula’s split mind saw him fail to cross the ball in time despite shaking off two defenders down the right flank.