By George Mwangi,
Kenyan champions Gor Mahia are out of the CECAFA Kagame Cup after a dismal performance that has left them bottom of Group B after three games with one to go in the group stages.
Gor Mahia conceded a stoppage time goal by substitute Bernabe Mubumbyi in the 92nd minute to send K’Ogalo crashing out of the 16-day tournament that has attracted 14 clubs from 11 countries.
Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza had earlier punished a defensive error by Gor Mahia converting a corner kick from Charles Tibingana in the 24th minute to hand the Rwandan giants a 1-0 advantage.
Goalkeeper Jerim Onyango saved the first shot from defender Ismael ‘Kodo’ Nshutiyamagara but Mugiraneza commonly known as ‘Migi’ tapped in the rebound to send the home crowd in jubilation.
Geoffrey ‘Baba’ Kizito equalized for Gor Mahia in the second half before Godfrey Walusimbi converted a nicely taken freekick past APR custodian Olivier Kwizera to give K’Ogalo a 2-1 lead in the 85th minute.
Tables turned in stoppage time when Mubumbyi beat two defenders to put the ball past Onyango who was left languishing on the artificial turf.
The 2-2 result means that Gor Mahia is out of the regional competition after amassing just a point in their three matches including a 2-1 loss to Uganda’s KCCA and a shocking 1-0 loss to Burundi’s Atletico.
Disappointed with the result, Gor Mahia head coach Bobby Williamson blamed poor officiating and lamented, “It was a bad game, a disgrace and very disappointing performance. The linesman and referee were not fair at all. They have cost us this game.”
Striker Dan Sserunkuma had a goal disallowed after beating the entire APR defense and Kwizera to tap the ball into an open net. However, the referee called a foul on the former and a free kick to the army side.
George Odhiambo, Timothy Otieno and Sserunkuma got several chances to give K’Ogalo a third goal but were unlucky in front of goal.
Gor Mahia will not face Djibouti’s Telecom in their last game on Sunday afternoon before leaving Kigali on Monday.
