Gor Mahia maintained their advantage on top of Kenyan Premier League (KPL) table with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Bandari in Machakos on Saturday.
K’Ogalo were the first to launch attacks to the hosts with Jacques Tuyisenge dazzling overlapping runs looking dangerous early on during the early stages of this encounter.
The league defending champions continued with penetration although the visitors were also slightly getting into the game.
David Kingatua’s shot, first of the game in the 15th minute, sailed over the bar, and it was followed by K’Ogalo ’s first threatening attack which saw George Odhiambo producing a through ball to the on running Tuyisenge but he arrived late when scoring looked prominent.
Meddi Kagere kept the dockers defence very busy as he looked very lively down the right flank.
As the game opened up, both sides had an equal share of the position, Felly Mulumba remained the busiest man in the field as he had to deal with the silky passing of K’Ogalo orchestrated by Kagere,Odhiambo and Tuyisenge.
As the clock winded down in the first half, pressure to Bandari increased and a defensive error by Mulumba made sure that Wesley Onguso shot was in the back of the net to make it 1-0 to the K’Ogalo four minutes before the half-time break.
Bandari launched a quick counter-attack a minute before the interval and Collins Agade forced K’Ogalo goalkeeper Oluoch into a good save.
After recess both teams showed intent with Gor being the first to surge forward, once again with the blistering pace of Kagere but Bandari’s defence were up to the standard and managed to clear.
Jacques Tuyisenge’s cross was superbly cleared by Kahata which resulted in a corner that Kagere sent in only for Odhiambo to head wide.
In the 50th minute, a cross by David Kingatua was well matched by Dan Guya’s header from the centre of penalty area but a comfortable save by Boniface Oluoch still kept dockers out of bay.
Gor responded well every time Bandari attacked and in the 55th minute, Ernest Wendo’s cross was well met by Odhiambo’s volley but sailed just inches wide.
In the 61th minute, Tuyisenge got teed up from the midfield to send a powerful short past surging Shikalo with the defence well beaten to make it 2-0.
After the goal, Gor looked revived as they threw waves of attack into the visitors side, with Kagere and Tuyisenge proving to be serious trouble down the flanks.
Boniface Akenga should have got a consolation in the 82nd minute but was superbly denied by Onguso who put his bodymto shave the ball out of dangerzone.
Bandari brought in the speedy Ochomo in attempts to counter the Gor defence but it all went in vein as the K’Ogalo went on to maintain their lead at the summit of the KPL log.
Saturday KPL results:
Sofapaka 2-1 Posta Rangers
Chemelil Sugar 2-1 Zoo
Nzoia Sugar 3-1 Kakamega Homeboyz
Vihiga United 0-0 Nakumatt
Gor Mahia 2-0 Bandari
