Gor inch closer to CAF group stages after beating Nigeria’s Lobi Stars 3-1

Gor Mahia team celebrates their goal against Lobi Stars of Nigeria during their CAF confederation qualifier match at Kasarani Stadium on Sunday 16/12/18[Boniface Okendo,Standard]

Mighty Gor Mahia take the shine off Lobi Stars

K’Ogalo are a match away from group stage ticket and Sh 56m rich

Onyango brace inspires Gor Mahia to victory over Lobi Stars.

Gor Mahia are 90 minutes away from the lucrative group stages of the CAF Champions League after beating Nigeria’s Lobi Stars 3-1 in the first leg of the first round, at Kasarani Stadium on Sunday.

The record Kenyan champions will now travel to Lagos on Friday knowing that their hosts need an extraordinary turnaround to deny them a ticket to the group stages and Sh56 million in prize money.

Last season, K’Ogalo lost 1-0 on aggregate to eventual champions Esperance of Tunisia at the same stage of the competition.

“It’s a good result but we had enough chances to kill off the game. It would have been 4-1 or more.  We had to lock the game in the second half because they (Lobi Stars) were keeping possession but they were not as dangerous,” said Gor Mahia coach Hassan Oktay.

“Our target is to reach the group stages and hopefully reach the final. I want to make history with Gor Mahia.”

The brace hero Samuel Onyango said: “It’s not yet over, we still have a second game to play. We have been there before and we know what to expect there. Money is not the main factor, we just want to qualify for the group stages.”

Jacques Tuyisenge gave Hassan Oktay’s men a perfect start with an exquisite seventh minute strike, which flew past the hapless goalkeeper Egbe Ospina before Samuel Onyango doubled the lead in the 21st minute after the defenders failed to clear Tuyisenge’s cut back.

This was a few moments after captain Baron Shakava missed two clear-cut chances.

First, the lanky defender failed to make sufficient contact to turn the ball into the net from Onyango’s delivery before he missed a sitter.

The Nigerians could have reduced the deficit in the 26th minute but Aghahowa Otakho’s shot was deflected for a fruitless corner before goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch stopped Kadri Timiliyen from scoring.

However, after a series of attempts, Lobi Stars were rewarded on the half hour mark when an unmarked Mathias Martins easily headed home Solomon Kwambe’s corner kick.

But Gor responded immediately with Onyango scoring a wonder goal; his second of the evening, after pouncing on a loose ball in the midfield.

Humphrey Mieno could have made it 4-1 but one of the Lobi defenders made a timely challenge to block his goal-bound effort before Ospina reacted fast to deny Tuyisenge.

Tuyisenge had a chance to put the game to bed in the 65th minute when he beat the on-rushing keeper, but his effort sailed over the bar.

After the miss, the Nigerians started growing in confidence, creating a number of half chances as they searched for a second goal, but the hosts held their nerves to claim the win.

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