Gor beat Ulinzi

By Gilbert Wandera

Ulinzi Stars Evans Amuoka and Stephen Waruru walk off the pitch after losing 1-0 to Gor Mahia. [PHOTO: STAFFORD ONDEGO/STANDARD]

Gor Mahia got the crucial three points in spite of wasting numerous chances in their Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clash against Ulinzi Stars at City Stadium on Wednesday.

A move initiated by Donald Mosoti deep in Gor Mahia half and passed on to Moses Otieno setting up Rama Salim who laid a neat pass for Ali Abondo to score was all that turned the fortunes of the match in favour of Gor Mahia.

Both teams started the match keen to keep their title campaign alive but the loss has greatly complicated matters for Ulinzi Stars. Coach Sammy Simiyu looked worried after the match.

“It is a sad loss for us and it puts us in a very difficult position but we will continue to fight till the end.

“Today we created many chances and dominated the game but we could not put the ball behind the net and it has once again cost us,” said a dejected Simiyu.

Ulinzi Stars have already lost in KPL Top Eight and are out of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Cup and are remaining with only the league title to go for.

ball possession

The soldiers enjoyed great possession in the opening minutes of the game and were the more ambitious side forcing two corners in the opening four minutes of the match attended by a huge crowd.

Ulinzi were opening up the Gor defence at will and Stephen Waruru should have taken advantage of a Solomon Nasio’s inability to clear a dangerous ball. However, poor anticipation meant that Waruru did not get close to the ball.

Five minutes later, man of the match Teddy Akumu set up Moses Odhiambo but he blasted wide.

Ugandan import Dan Ssrenkuma was a constant nag in the Ulinzi defence and in the 37th minute he beat three of his markers but the best he could get from the effort was a fruitless corner.

Great defending

A minute later, Lawrence Owino just missed putting Ulinzi ahead with his trade mark left shot, which was deflected by a Gor defender on its way out of play.

Kevin Omondi was brought in at the beginning of the second half to replace Moses Otieno and it is a move that added impetus to the Gor midfield.

Ssrenkuma would prove very wasteful five minutes into the second half when he found himself with only Jacktone Odhiambo to beat at the end of a Teddy Akumu pass. The Ugandan was replaced for his miss and Edward Lavatsa thrown in to liven the Gor attack.

Ulinzi also had their chances in the second half with Stephen Waruru once again blasting wide in the 56th minute. Four minutes later Abondo netted the all-important goal.

But the soldiers were not giving up and Lawrence Owino had just one more chance in the 77th minute but instead hit wide. Despite the win, coach Zradvko Logarusic said Gor need to improve on finishing.