Gor, Western Stima share spoils in Kisumu
James Magayi and Harrison Kivisu
A red card in either half of the match overshadowed the one-all Kenyan Premier League stalemate between reigning champions Gor Mahia and Western Stima at Kisumu’s Moi stadium yesterday afternoon.
In Mombasa, Bandari utilised home ground advantage to give veteran coach Twahir Muhiddin his first win since taking over the mantle from Benjamin Mwalala as they saw off a stubborn KCB 2-1 at the Mbaraka Grounds to ease pressure on the technical bench.
In the Kisumu match, first to be sent off was K’Ogalo’s defensive stalwart Joash Onyango barely 10 minutes into the match.
The 26-year old Harambee Stars’ defender found it difficult to cope with raw power, blistering pace and youthful guile of 17-year-old Stima forward Benson Omala, a student at Kisumu Day High School.
Onyango deservedly got his marching orders for fouling the youngster and spoiling Western Stima’s glorious chance to break the deadlock.
A long ball had been floated forward and Omala, in his quest for an eighth league goal, lounged for the ball with terrific pace, got the better of Onyango, leaving him with no choice other than tripping him to avert a goal.
Being Gor Mahia’s last defender, Onyango received a straight red card for his transgression.
Gor Mahia waited two minutes after the red card before sacrificing Nicholas Kipkirui as coach Steven Polack moved to shore up his back line.
However, it was the 10-man K’Ogallo who went ahead, taking the lead through Clifton Miheso’s powerful strike three minutes into the second half.
Gor switched off thereafter, taking every opportunity to run down the clock by slowing the pace of play and going down at the slightest of contacts.
Ugandan midfielder Villa Oromchan then capitalised on poor defending by Gor Mahia to lob the ball over goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch in the Gor Mahia goal for the equalizer in the 66th minute.
The Stima hero then went from hero to zero 10 minutes after his goal when he got a straight red card for a nasty challenge on winger Boniface Omondi.
Gor Mahia tried to seize momentum by introducing Juma Balinya in the dying minutes but they failed to get penetration.
The KPL defending champions consequently added one point in their tally while losing impetus in this season’s title race. Tusker have the chance to cut their lead to just one point if they win their next game.
At Mbaraki stadium, after a goalless first half, Ugandan William Wadri propped Bandari ahead with a clinically taken penalty after Cliff Kasuti had been tripped in the box by KCB defender Dennis Odhiambo.
Congolese Yema Mwana returned from injury to double Bandari’s advantage in the 78th minute after coming on for Hamisi Mwinyi 10 minutes into the second half.
He timed well his run to beat KCB high line then latched on a long ball and dribbled past the goalkeeper to slot into an empty net. KCB’s goal came through Reegan Otieno in the 82nd minute.
