Gor Finally Crack Nyasa In Tough CAF Champions League Tie

28th November 2018

Substitute Bernard Ondiek scores deep in stoppage time to give hosts 1-0 lead in preliminary round clash at MISC Kasarani

Youssef Blaili (left) of Esperance de Tunis and Joachim Oluoch of Gor Mahia FC during their CAF Champions League first round opening leg clash at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos on March 7, 2018. PHOTO/SPN/Courtesy
Youssef Blaili (left) of Esperance de Tunis and Joachim Oluoch of Gor Mahia FC during their CAF Champions League first round opening leg clash at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos on March 7, 2018. PHOTO/SPN/Courtesy
SUMMARY
  • Victory ended a nervous night for interim head coach, Zedekiah 'Zico' Otieno who was in charge of his first game at the local glamour club since it parted ways with Englishman Dylan Kerr a fortnight ago
  • Seasoned midfielder, Humphrey Mieno found the substitute inside the box and to the delight of the hosts, thumped the ball past the Nyasa keeper to finally break their resistance in virtually the last kick of the game
  • Before the game Kerr had wished the team well saying his former side was capable of pulling victory against the Malawian outfit in the preliminary leg

NAIROBI, Kenya- SportPesa Premier League (SPL) champions, Gor Mahia  FC left it very late to sink stubborn visitors Nyasa Big Bullets  FC of Malawi 1-0 in their CAF Champions League preliminary round first leg encounter at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on Wednesday night.

The winner came in the 94th minute by Bernard Ondieki who came in as a substitute in the tough match that saw two goals by the home side ruled out by the centre referee in the 54th and 81st.

Victory ended a nervous night for interim head coach, Zedekiah 'Zico' Otieno who was in charge of his first game at the local glamour club since it parted ways with Englishman Dylan Kerr a fortnight ago.

The former captain of the 1995 title-winning side handed debuts to new signings, Uganda internationals Shafiq Batambuze at left-back and Erissa Ssekisambu upfront with Kenneth Muguna earning a place in midfield on his return to the club from his stint at Albanian side, FK Tirana.

Gor dominated the first 10 minutes of the game but were unable to break the 4-4-2 pattern by the opponents who were solid in defense.

Star forward and Rwanda international Jacques Tuyisenge struck an early blow to the home side when he left the pitch injured with just 11 minutes on the clock to be replaced by Francis Mustafa of Burundi.

Captain Harun Shakava received a crisp pass in the 15th but was unlucky when his screamer sailed over the bar.

George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo almost put Gor ahead in the three minutes later but his lack of concentration saw him squander the open chance.

Batambuze, who slotted in the position vacated by compatriot Godfrey Walusimbi who left Gor for South African side Kaizer Chiefs, connected with a well-floated aerial ball in the 22nd but just like Shakava he shot wide.

The busy left-back then took a free kick in the 40th just outside the Nyasa box but his low shot fizzled wide as yet another scoring chance for the record 17-time domestic league winners went begging.

Ssekisambu almost gave the hosts a lead on the stroke of half time to mark his debut in emphatic fashion but his feeble header that was parried out of danger by the Nyasa keeper for 0-0 at the break.

Nyasa charges resorted to time wasting tactics on resumption by going down at the slightest touch before Gor were disappointed nine minutes after half time when the centre referee ruled out Samuel Onyango's finish for offside.

Odhiambo was denied what seemed like a penalty in the 74th but the hosts continued to press on for a breakthrough and nine minutes to full time, another goal was chalked off after Odhiambo was adjudged to have handled the ball before it landed into the net.

It was headed to be a frustrating night for interim head coach ‘Zico’ Otieno and his charges until the fourth minute of time added on when Ondieki produced the decisive moment.

Seasoned midfielder, Humphrey Mieno found the substitute inside the box and to the delight of the hosts, thumped the ball past the Nyasa keeper to finally break their resistance in virtually the last kick of the game.

The sides will meet again on December 5 in Blantyre, Malawi with K'Ogalo needing a draw or better to progress to the first round where either of USM de Loum of Cameroon or Lobi Stars of Nigeria await.

Kerr wishes

The last time K’Ogalo played Nyasa Big Bullets was Cecafa Club Championship in 1982, which ended in a 1-1 draw that send Gor to the top of the group table.

Nyasa are the 46th opponent that Gor are engaging in the continental competition and the second side from Malawi to play K’Ogalo having beaten Yamaha Leaf Wanderers 3-0 in 1985.

Before the game Kerr had wished the team well saying his former side was capable of pulling victory against the Malawian outfit in the preliminary leg.

“Remember you’ve earned the right to be here, make it count, give Zico everything and the K’Ogalo faithful a good result,” Kerr wrote on his twitter handle.

Last year, Gor overcame SuperSport United FC of South Africa in the play-off to sail into the preliminaries with a 2-2 aggregate, setting them up against Tunisian outfit, Esperance de Tunis.

Esperance forced a 0-0 draw at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos before knocking Gor out of the competition with a volatile 1-0 win in Tunis before they went all the way to win the premier African club competition for the third time last month.

The defeat relegated Gor to the CAF Confederation Cup where they finished third in Group D with eight points after going down 1-2 against USM Alger away in Algeria on the final day.

Gor Mahia Starting X1:1. Peter Odhiambo, 26. Philemon Otieno, 6. Shafiq Batambuze, 12. Joash Onyango, 18. Haron Shakava, 20. Earnest Wendo, 22. Erisa Ssekisambu, 30. Humphrey Mieno, 21. Kenneth Muguna, 25. George Odhiambo, 9. Jacques Tuyisenge

Subs:29. Boniface Oluoch, 27. Charles Momanyi, 5. Pascal Ogweno, 10. Cercidy Okeyo, 17. Benard Ondiek, 23. Francis Mustafa, 3. Samuel Onyango