Gor Mahia sink Bandari
Gor Mahia stretched their winning record over Bandari after blitzing the hosts 3-1 in a Betking Premier League match at Mbaraki Sports ground in Mombasa yesterday.
Burundian international Jules Ulimwengu ended a three-match goal-scoring drought in the fiercely fought tie when he masterminded the victory by notching a brace in the encounter at extremely sweltering conditions.
Gor Mahia’s Portuguese coach Manuel Vaz Pinto was over the moon after registering his fourth victory with the multiple champions since joining the team.
“The players showed to all and sundry what is up their sleeves in terms of performance.
I must say I’m overly happy that we have found the right balance and we can only get better going forward,’ said Pinto.
Despite playing away, Gor were the faster off the blocks amongst the two teams and duly grabbed the opener in the 36th minute when Ulimwengu, who was a thorn in Bandari’s defence, took a half chance to put the ball at the back of the net.
Interestingly, Bandari took only two minutes to level terms in the highly physical game when Bernard Odhiambo converted a penalty.
Ulimwengu, formerly a playmaker with Rwanda’s Rayon Sports, would then add the second goal for Gor in the 45th minute before late substitute Nicholas Kipkirui, back at the Green Army after a two-week sabbatical, helped himself with the third goal in the 94th minute.
Following the win, Gor moved from the eighth position in the league chart to the sixth position thus dislodging Ulinzi Stars.
Elsewhere at Sudi Stadiun in Bongoma, Nzoia Sugar prevailed 2-1 over Zoo Kericho in yet another match that was hotly contested.
Nzoia drew first blood in the 11th minute when diminutive Hillary Wandera scored from an opportunistic strike.
The goal stung Zoo into retaliation and after launching a flurry of attacks, they earned a penalty which was coolly slotted in by Bernard Odhiambo.
At Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani, Luke Namanda emerged the hero of Tusker after scoring the team’s only goal to beat a gritty Mathare United 1-0.
The win takes Tusker on top of the table on 23 points after KCB drew 0-0 with Ulinzi Stars.
Incidentally, it was a game of rueful missing by both teams, Tusker’s Henry Meja missing a penalty in the 15th minute with David Otieno of Mathare United also missing on the spot inside 29 minutes.
Mathare, under the tutelage of Salim Ali, should squarely blame themselves for the defeat after wasting numerous scoring chances especially in the action-packed second half.
