Head Strong Kipkurui Inspires 10-Man Gor To Uncork SPL Rivals Tusker

27th February 2019 - by SPN Correspondent

Keeper Boniface Oluoch sent off in the 23rd minute but SPL champions dominate in 1-0 victory in Machakos that lifts them to second on the log

Jacques Tuyisenge of Kenya's Gor Mahia (C, below) celebrates with Batambuze Shafik (C, above) after scoring his second goal during their CAF Confereration cup football match against Egypt's Zamalek at The Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi on February 3, 2019. Kenya's Gor Mahia won by 4-2 against Egypt's Zamalek. PHOTO/AFP

SUMMARY

Victory took the champions who are seeking a third SPL title in a row lifted them to second on the log on 29 points, two adrift of frontrunners Bandari FC with the top two having played 14 matches apiece. Mathare United FC in third are level with Gor but are behind on goal difference having played a game more
Gor suffered a setback when goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch was sent off for handling the ball outside the penalty area as he sought to break off Tusker’s counter attack. George 'Blackberry' Odhiambo was the sacrificial lamb as Shaban Odhonji was brought in for his first appearance of the season
Despite their numerical advantage, Gor put pressure on Tusker, playing with a high line of defense defender Shakava stepping as high as the midway line

NAIROBI, Kenya- Nicholas Kipkurui was the hero once more when 10-man Gor Mahia FC took a significant step in their pursuit of a record extending 18th domestic crown in a 1-0 victory against challengers Tusker FC in a headline SportPesa Premier League (SPL) encounter that went down at the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos on Wednesday afternoon.

Victory took the champions who are seeking a third SPL title in a row lifted them to second on the log on 29 points, two adrift of frontrunners Bandari FC with the top two having played 14 matches apiece. Mathare United FC in third are level with Gor but are behind on goal difference having played a game more.

A deft header in the second half from the former Zoo Kericho FC forward separated the two domestic giants in a fixture that was moved from the MISC Kasarani in Nairobi to Machakos, some 70 kilometres from the capital.

Head Coach Robert 'The Lion' Matano's Brewers spurned the chance to move into the top four, remaining sixth on 22 after suffering their fourth defeat of the season on an afternoon that saw his opposite number, Hassan Oktay, chalk off another potential banana skin ahead of their Friday trip to Algiers to face NA Hussen Dey in a weekend CAF Confederations Cup return leg clash.

Gor suffered a setback when goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch was sent off for handling the ball outside the penalty area as he sought to break off Tusker’s counter attack. George 'Blackberry' Odhiambo was the sacrificial lamb as Shaban Odhonji was brought in for his first appearance of the season.

Wasteful finishing

Despite playing 65 minutes with only 10 men, Gor controlled most of the match and only wasteful finishing prevented them winning by a bigger margin.

Prior to the red card, Gor who, save for Odhiambo, fielded the same team that played Algeria’s Hussein Dey in Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup fixture had dodged the bullet twice.

In the second minute, Paul Kamau had what perhaps will rank highly as the miss of the season when he slammed the ball against the crossbar from a yard out when it was hardest to miss than score.

David Juma had raced to the ball on the left before squaring back to Kamau who had the simplest task of tapping into an empty net with Oluoch off his line.

In the 10th minute, Harun Shakava made a brilliant block to deny Otieno who had taken a shot after Eric Ambunya had beaten Oluoch to the ball on the right.

Gor had their first effort at goal after 20 minutes and it was a brilliant effort, Shafik Batambuze’s freekick from 20 yards out forcing a brilliant full stretched save from Tusker custodian Emery Mvuyekure.

Odhoji was called into work immediately he came on and he had to watch out a freekick from the edge of the box, awarded from Oluoch’s lunge at Otieno. The keeper made a good save going low to his left to parry away Otieno’s effort.

Despite their numerical advantage, Gor put pressure on Tusker, playing with a high line of defense defender Shakava stepping as high as the midway line.