AFC HIT AS GOR SOAR: Chemelil upset ‘Ingwe’, Bandari fall to champs and Stima shine

Abouba Sibamana (right) of Gor Mahia FC controls the ball against Shaban Kenga (left) of Bandari FC in their Kenya Premier League match at the Mombasa City Stadium, August 29, 2015. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

Godfrey Walusimbi scored twice as Gor Mahia, the runaway leaders of Kenyan Premier League improved their unassailable lead and unbeaten record by beating Bandari 2-1 in a tough match at the Mombasa County Stadium.

Unless miracles happen, Gor Mahia have “mathematically” won the league for the third year running as they only need one win from the remaining six assignments.

Despite parading his best arsenal, Bandari’s coach Twahir Muhiddin side lacked the confidence of beating the defending champions from the word go.

Playing without the on-form Michael Olunga who is in South Africa for trials with Bid Vest Wits, Gor Mahia played like true champions, swinging the ball in all departments to dominate the proceedings.

Enock Agwanda, who took Olunga’s role, could have put Gor ahead in the fourth minutes, but blasted his shot wide. Bandari’s task to contain Gor’s marauding strikers looked tougher with Meddie Kagere, Agwanda and Godfrey Walusimbi greeting custodian Wilson Oburu time and again.

Walusimbi set the stadium into prolonged celebrations in the 24th minute when he made a solo effort to convincingly struck a neat volley, which Oburu failed to hold as it rolled into the net as the 2015 Cecafa Club Championship finalists took a 1-0 lead at half time.

Bandari replied in the 62nd minute through a penalty after Haroun Shakava handled the ball in the box. Anthony Kimani stepped forward and put the scores at par.

Walusimbi was the man-of-the-match after he tucked home the winning goal in the 71st minute off Agwanda’s pass.

Meanwhile, Meshack Karani struck a brace as a resurgent Chemelil Sugar beat AFC Leopards 2-1 in a KPL match at the City Stadium yesterday.

Karani capitalised on Martin Kizza’s defensive error to put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute. The former Mathare United man snatched the ball from the Ugandan, shrugged off Eric Masika’s challenge before slotting the ball past Lucas Indeche.

Head coaches for both sides  Zdravko Logarusic (AFC) and Mike Mururi (Chemelil) were missing on the bench with assistant Ezekiel Akwana (AFC) and Chemelil interim coach Hillary Ouma guiding their clubs.

Leopards Ivorian Laminne Diallo missed a precious scoring chance from Michael Khamati’s pass which he headed wide a few minutes later in the second minute.

And just after the break, Karani doubled the lead from Joshua Ayoo’s corner kick in the 55th minute. This came moments after Khamati combined well with Diallo, but the former fluffed his chance and Diallo had been denied by the Millers’ custodian Jairus Adira on a one on one situation.

In the 65th minute, Bernard Mang’oli had a chance to pull a goal back for the struggling Leopards but his efforts went over the bar before Indeche came off his line to save Oyoo’s cross.

However, after numerous raids, Leopards efforts paid off thanks to substitute Duncan Otieno’s 70th minute goal.

Meanwhile, Wesley Kemboi and Baron Jobita scored a goal each as Western Stima stunned Nairobi City Stars 2-1 at the Nyayo National Stadium on Friday night.

In an earlier match at the same venue, Tusker shared the spoils with Ushuru after the clash ended in a barren draw.

In Nakuru, visiting Thika United beat Nakuru All Stars to collected three vital points in a KPL match at Afraha Stadium yesterday.

Eight minutes after the kick-off, Thika United grabbed the match opener through striker Kennedy Otieno whose fierce shot beat All Stars custodian Shaban Odhonji all the way.

But, All Stars forward John Ndirangu cancelled the lead in the 23rd minute. The visitors piled on pressure with Joseph Kuria scoring the winning goal two minutes into the second half.

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