Mighty Gor Mahia came into the Mashemeji derby with a seriou winning mood as they humbled arch rivals AFC Leopards 2-0 in a Kenyan Premier League game played Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on Saturday afternoon.
Midfielders Kenneth Muguna and Francis Kahata did the damage for the champions with goals that eased past their rivals in the charged match.
After knocking on the Leopards door in the early exchanges, Gor deservedly went ahead through Muguna. Kahata, in acres of space on the left, sent a low cross that arrived in the box half a yard behind Boniface Omondi.
With the Ingwe rearguard out of position, a goal mouth melee ensued and Muguna capitalised. Picking the loose ball from close range, he fired a low drive that slipped through Eric Ndayishimiye’s feet for the opener.
AFC Leopards struggled to make amends firing from all cylinders but were unsuccessful in penetrating the four-man Gor defence marshalled by captain Harun Shakava.
With Joash Onyango, Shafiq Batambuze and Philemon Otieno as his comrades in arms, Shakava did his part to keep the ball away from the timid Ingwe frontline that had was led by Marcel Kaheza and Tatuwe Waiyyeka.
In the second stanza, Oktay’s boys picked from where they left with Tuyisenge and Muguna repeatedly threatening the Ingwe defence that had Dennis Sikhayi, Salim Abdallah, Isaac Kipyegon and Christopher Oruchum.
The Green Army wildly celebrated the second goal in the 64th minute. Diminutive midfielder Francis Kahata stepped forward to take a freekick and although it looked innocuous while arriving at the Leopards box, the ball took a wicked bounce in front of Ndayishimiye and rolled into the net.
Oktay’s starting line-up had all the players who triumphed against Egyptian side Zamalek in the CAF Confederation Cup last weekend, save for Lawrence Juma who is unwell, as well as the central defence partnership of Charles Momanyi and Joachim Oluoch who were replaced by Shakava and Joash Onyango.
For Ingwe, Mbungo made only one change in the squad that lost 2-1 Mount Kenya United on Wednesday resting Eugene Mukangula for Christopher Oruchum.
The win lifts Gor Mahia to second place on the SportPesa Premier League table with 22 points while Ingwe remain 15th with 10 points. Stiker Dennis Oliech was ruled out of the game because of Injury.
