Gor pip rivals on post match penalties to lift Madaraka Day Cup, pocket Ksh1million
Prodigal son Austin Odhiambo returned to haunt his former club AFC Leopards after his coolly slotted spot-kick made all the difference and ensured Gor Mahia’s victory over their arch-rivals to lift the Madaraka Day Cup that came with a cash prize of Sh 1 million at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, yesterday.
Gor won the match 6-5 on post-match penalties after the two sides had settled for a 1-1 draw during regular time.
Gor Mahia scored all the spot-kicks through captain Philemon Otieno, Samuel Onyango, Benson Omalla, Dennis Nganga, John Macharia and Austin Odhiambo. Ingwe on the other hand notched their penalties courtesy of Tedian Esilaba, Washington Munene, Victor Omune, Josephat Lopaga and John Makwatta before their skipper Peter Thiongo missed the target to have the fervent Green Army ecstatic and in a celebratory mood going into the final decisive spot kick.
Gor Mahia thus retain their unbeaten record against their opponents for a sixth year now.
Broke the deadlock
In normal time, Collins Shivachi’s header off a Peter Thiongo free-kick in the 34th minute broke the deadlock with Gor Mahia custodian Gad Matthews in no man’s land after slipping. K’Ogalo who pushed hard in the second half were rewarded after a silly mistake from goalkeeper Ingwe custodian Levis Opiyo after he sent a loose ball to a well placed Austin Odhiambo to bury home the equaliser for Gor in the 69th minute. Wing-play was also critical in the match with the opposite ends of Lewis Bandi and Peter Thiongo coming head to head with Geoffrey Ochieng and Philemon Otieno of K’Ogalo.
The win earned K’Ogalo Sh 1million plus a glittering trophy, while Ingwe took home Sh500,000.
The game itself was fairly well balanced with both sides having their moments on the opposing end.
Leopards had the upper hand in the first half with Brian Wanyama,Ojo Olaniyi and Cliff Nyakeya causing all manner of problems to K’Ogalo backline with one too many mistakes from centre backs Dennis Nganga and youngster Paul Ochuogo exposing goalkeeper Gad Matthews who had a busy afternoon. On the other end,Levis Opiyo was on point thwarting many attacks from Gor Mahia especially with Benson Omalla and Samuel Onyango being the culprits with the former missing two sitters.
Gor Mahia midfield was busy and at times dirty with Earnest Wendo working overtime in the heart of the pack with his battle with opposite number Eugene Mukangula.Austin Odhiambo and Peter Lwasa were the creative spark often spraying passes with veteran George Ogutu missing a couple of clear chances.Overall the team from the 2oth minute started gelling and spraying passes but the closing tactic and pressing by Ingwe made it difficult for Gor Mahia to play to their best thus at times resorting to long-balls.
Ingwe were also quick to sweep any danger with Shivachi and Wanyama being hard at work in intercepting any threats.Second half-substitutions Maxwell Otieno and John Mark Makwatta tried to bring fresh impetus upfront but the K’Ogalo end held steady.Coach Andreas Spier of Gor Mahia also brought in the creative power of John Macharia and the power of Sando Yangayay upfront with the two lighting up play when they came on. The German tactician in an earlier pre-match interview expressed confidence in his team winning given the preparations.
Both sides now shift focus to the League with fourth placed Gor Mahia FC on 51 points next up facing relegation threatened Nzoia Sugar FC on Sunday while sixth placed AFC Leopards SC faci off with fifth placed Nairobi City Stars FC who are on 47 points on Saturday.
