Gor Mahia held as Posta beat Berets

By Gilbert Wandera and Ben Ahenda

Gor Mahia fans painted Naivasha green and white, but it was not enough to give their team the much needed victory as hosts Karuturi Sports held on to pick a point in their barren draw.

It is a result that has complicated matters for second-placed Gor, who were hoping for a win in their quest to keep up pressure on leaders Ulinzi Stars who play Tusker today.

Enthusiastic Gor fans were everywhere at the Karuturi Stadium and took every space. The home fans were nowhere and whatever support they could offer was drowned by the loud vuvuzelas.

It was not, however, the same on the pitch with Karuturi dictating matters for a huge chunk of the first half in which their opponents opted to play a cautious game hoping to catch them on the counter-attack.

The strategy did not work, at least not in the first half, and Karuturi had two chances to finish off the game. First, Ibrahim Hannan hit the far post with Gor goalkeeper Jerim Onyango well beaten in the tenth minute.

Then veteran Jacob Omondi shot directly at Onyango after Allan Otindo had put him through three minutes later. There were no clear-cut chances for the visiting team, but there was some hope early in the match when George Odhiambo released a killer pass to Kevin Omondi who was, however, marked out of the match.

Baldwin Ngwa had a decent chance in the middle of the first half, but was stopped by Mike Wanyika in Karuturi’s goal.

It was a different ball game in the second half with Gor the better of the two sides, but they appeared to have left it too late in the match for impact. Both sets of coaches were satisfied with a point each.

Quick goal

Gor coach Zedekiah Otieno said: “Having been away for two weeks, it affected us especially in the first half. We knew Karuturi would come at us and try and get a quick goal, but we were prepared for them. We are happy with the result.”

Asked whether he still has hopes of winning the league, Otieno said: “Anything can happen in the next four matches. We will just focus on giving our best.”

In another match pitting two sides fighting relegation, Posta Rangers got three vital goals by coming from behind to beat Red Berets 2-1 in a balanced and entertaining tie Afraha Stadium in Nakuru.

Berets drew the first blood through Joseph Asudza who capitalised on a defensive mix-up to hit home past Posta custodian Victor Omondi in the 10th minute. This failed to dampen the fighting spirits of the postal men who fought back to equalise in the 31st minute through Pascal Ochieng from a penalty Posta got the winner in the 53rd minute when Isaiah Omondi netted after spadework by right-winger Edwin Mwaura.