Gor Mahia thrash Thika to dislodge Mathare at the top

Gor Mahia FC's Lawrence Juma (left) and Sammy Meja of Thika United during KPL match at Kenyatta Stadium on Sunday at Kenyatta Stadium Machakos County on April 22, 2018. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Dylan Kerr tactical prowess propelled Gor Mahia back at the top of the Kenyan Premier League table with an emphatic 5-2 win over Thika United as Ulinzi Stars rallied to beat Nakumatt 3-2 in Sunday's double header matches, at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos.

The victory saw Gor, who have three games in hand, leapfrog Mathare United at the top with 25 points.

With the game locked at 2-2, the Briton made a tactical change bringing the trio of Francis Kahata, Samuel Onyango and Meddie Kagere, a decision that paid off as the three substitutes scored a goal apiece.

Eugene Mukangula had put Thika ahead with a clinical finish at the edge of the box in the fifth minute before Ephrem Guikan cancelled it out on the stroke of halftime.

Juma Lawrence could have pulled level in the 23rd minute, but his goal bound shot in the box blocked by teammate Jacques Tuyisenge before the Rwandese's effort was deflected for a corner.

Harun Shakava came close to scoring on the half hour mark but his close range shot from the resulting corner kick crashed against the cross bar.

But after a series of raids, Guikan restored parity with a fine finish on the stroke of halftime after being released through on goal by Tuyisenge.

Mukangula saw his glancing header in the 55th minute go inches wide before Masakidi Mata blasted wide a precious scoring chance.

Mata made the amends two minutes later when he curled his free -kick at the edge of the box over the wall and into the top-left corner, leaving the goalkeeper Shaban Odhoji stranded.

However, Gor scrapped their way back into the game when goalkeeper Allan Owiny's howler gifted them an equaliser in the 66th minute.

Sensing the danger, Kerr brought on the trio of Kahata, Onyango and Kagere, a decision that won the game for K'Ogalo.

Onyango kick-started the comeback when he pounced on a loose ball in the area and drove it home for Gor's third goal before Kahata set up Kagere. The Kenyan international capped it off with a wonder goal against his former club deep into the game.

In an earlier match, Oscar Wamalwa also came off the bench to score a brace as Ulinzi Stars rallied to beat Nakumatt 3-2 in Sunday's Kenyan Premier League at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos.

Elvis Nandwa cancelled out Brian Nyakan's opener in the 36th minute before Wamalwa scored from a penalty followed by Donald Mosoti's equaliser from the the spot.

Meanwhile, Tusker has reportedly fired Ugandan Sam Timbe due to poor results.

Sunday's KPL results

Vihiga United 3-1 Nzoia Sugar

Sony Sugar 0-0 Posta Rangers

Gor Mahia 5-2 Thika United

Nakumatt 2-3 Ulinzi Stars