Gor Mahia pull another win

Gor Mahia Nizigimana(R) and Boniface Akenga of Nakumatt hang for header during their KPL match at Nyayo National Stadium on Wednesday 02/08/17.Gor won 1-0

The league leaders prove their might over Nakumatt with a double win in just three days

Gor Mahia completed a double over Nakumatt after beating the shoppers 1-0 in the second Kenyan Premier League double header tie at Nyayo Stadium yesterday.

It took only 11 minutes for Jacques Tuyisenge to break the deadlock and extend the 15-time champions’ stay at the top of the table to 34 points, one ahead of second-placed Posts Rangers, who stunned champions Tusker in an early kick-off match at the same venue.

Tuyisenge comfortably controlled George Odhiambo’s incisive pass from the left before slotting the ball past Nakumatt goalkeeper Sammy Okinda.

Meddie Kagere could have doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time but his attempt hit the side-netting.

At the same venue, Jockins Atudo scored a thunderbolt free kick as ten-man Posts Rangers produced tremendous gritty display to stun Kenyan Premier League champions Tusker 1-0, at Nyayo National Stadium, yesterday.

Rangers played the last ten minutes one man less after Dennis Mukaisi picked up his second yellow card for protesting against centre referee Raymond Onyango’s decision to cancel Atudo’s earlier goal.

The victory, which came barely five days after the two sides drew 1-1 in the first-leg encounter in Meru, took Rangers' points tally to 33.

“Considering our first-leg result, I knew it would be a tough match. But even after we were reduced to one man less and denied what looked like a genuine goal, the boys showed character and got a goal through a set piece. This result is a motivation ahead of our next match. Beating a champion shows we are genuine title contenders,” Rangers coach Sammy Omollo told Standard Sports.

“We have to go back to the drawing board and get our scoring touch back. We must bounce back as quickly as possible,” said Tusker’s coach Nsimbe.

Tusker threatened first in the fourth minute when Michael Khamati missed Humphrey Mieno’s clever flick in the area with goalkeeper Farouk Shikhalo already off his line.

A few moments later, the mail men failed to capitalise on the brewers’ defensive error as Kennedy Otieno missed a sitter from Boniface Muchiri’s miscalculated clearance in the box.

Rangers came close in the 38th minute but Otieno’s effort in the box was blocked by Collins Shivachi before the former Sofapaka defender’s freekick went wide.

Khamati had another chance seven minutes into the second half but the former AFC Leopards man shot feebly into Shikhalo’s hands before Jerry Santos’ header was easily gathered by Tusker custodian Duncan Ochieng.

On the 71st minute, Rangers midfielder Erick Kibiru forced a fine save from Tusker goalkeeper before Eugene Asike reacted fast to clear the rebound for a fruitless corner.

Ten minutes later, centre referee disallowed Atudo’s clear goal from Luke Ochieng’s long throw ball. Mukaisi then received a second yellow card for bad mouthing the referee after cancelling the goal.

However, it didn’t take long before Atudo proved his goal scoring credentials from a set piece with his thunderbolt free kick leaving Tusker goalkeeper stranded.

In Kisumu, AFC Leopards came from a goal down to force hosts Western Stima to a one-all draw at the Moi Stadium.

Stima, took a lead with 38th minutes gone into the game through Ugandan Import Oronchman Villa before Aziz Okaka on the 44th minute.