Thika Stun Champions Gor, Madoya Saves Zoo

NAIROBI, Kenya- Record domestic league champions Gor Mahia FC went down to a stunning 0-1 loss to basement side Thika United FC in a SportPesa Premier League (SPL) showdown at the Thika Sub-County Stadium on Sunday.

Thika (23) are now eight points adrift of safety and four behind fellow relegation-threatened side Wazito FC (27) who went down to a morale-sapping 0-1 loss to Ulinzi Stars FC at Kericho Green Stadium.

Elsewhere, Bandari FC blew the chance to put further distance between them and the chasing pack when they were forced to a 1-1 draw at Zoo Kericho FC, the same result that was produced in the encounter between Sony Sugar FC and Vihiga United FC.

The 'Western Derby' between Kakamega Homeboyz FC and Nzoia Sugar FC produced fireworks at the Bukhungu Stadium in a five-goal thriller that ended 3-2 in favour of the home side in the highest scoring game of the day.

After a tumultuous week, K'Ogalo who were crowned SPL winners with six games to spare last month travelled to Thika to face a side that needed nothing short of victory to have a realistic chance of mounting a great escape.

Michael Odongo was the hero for Gabriel 'Kingi' Njoroge's side when he scored the only goal of the game in the 62nd minute before the milkmen held on for their first victory since May and only the fifth of a trouble season.

The loss was Gor’s second of the campaign following their 1-2 reverse to Bandari FC with the title holders paying the steep price of sending out a team that had not trained for a week.

Downed tools

This is after the playing staff downed their tools protesting over unpaid August salary and bonuses accruing from six SPL victories.

Burundi national, Francis Mustapha thought he had levelled the contest late on but the ball was adjudged not to have entirely crossed the line much to the chagrin of the travelling Green Army supporters.

The defeat for Dylan Kerr’s charges will do nothing but injure their huge pride with the SPL champions who travel to England next month to face Everton FC on November 6 gearing to be awarded the league trophy on September 29.

With AFC Leopards SC (51) who sunk Posta Rangers FC 2-1 on Saturday breathing down their necks in the race to finish second, Bandari (55) failed to hold on to the lead given to them by their revelation, Yema Mwana in the 22nd minute in Kericho.

The 2017 SPL Most Valuable Player, Michael Madoya rescued his side Zoo (34) with a 90th minute equaliser as his side inched up a spot to 13th on the SPL log.

The Bukhungu humdinger saw Homeboyz prevail through a brace from Moses Mudavadi and another from Keiphas Mutuu with Collins Wakhungu and Brian Otieno hitting back for Nzoia.

The result saw the hosts increase their tally to 40 in ninth with the losing sugar millers (34) sliding a place down the log to 14th due to their inferior goal difference to Zoo. 

Fredrick Onyango gave Sony the lead in the 58th but it was short lived after Vihiga restored parity three minutes later through Dennis Wafula for a 1-1.

Enosh Ochieng' took only three minutes to score the winning goal for Ulinzi at the first of the double header at Kericho that dented Wazito's hopes of retaining their SPL status on their first season in the top flight.