NAIROBI, Kenya, August 18 – Gor Mahia moved up to fourth on the Kenya Premier League (KPL) standings after a 2-0 win over Ulinzi on Wednesday night.Goals in each half from Baldin Ngwa and George Odhiambo delivered all three points for Kogallo on a dramatic evening that saw Gor midfielder Collins Okoth sent off for dissent and his coach Zedekiah Otieno banished to the stands.
“This match was very tough. We started at a very high pace and God gave us three points because to play the top team in the league is not easy and then again with ten men it became difficult,” said Gor captain Julius Owino.
The soldiers had the tables turned on them as Gor were the ones who laid siege on their goal from the first whistle.
Lively striker Dan Makori had a chance to put Kogallo ahead in the second minute but his shot hit the side netting.
The men in white did not have to wait long to go 1-0 up when Odhiambo and Kevin Omondi combined to set up Ngwa’s goal.
Omondi’s cross into the area was collected by Odhiambo who in turn teed up Ngwa who buried the ball into the net.
Buoyed on by their vociferous fans, Gor played their typical free flowing football while Ulinzi resorted to sit back and catch their opponents on the counter.
Veteran midfielder Tom Ogweno had the first real chance to put Ulinzi after running onto a through pass but his tame shot was blocked by Gor goalkeeper Frederick Onyango.
Harambee Stars midfielder James Mulinge almost had his name in lights when he latched onto a cross and produced a strike on the turn only for his shot to go wide.
Odhiambo continued to be a thorn in Ulinzi’s side with darting runs and almost doubled Kogallo’s lead with halftime looming after collecting a through pass from Chris Wekesa but his shot hit the upright.
The early stages of the second half were full of drama after the dismissals of Okoth and Otieno.
Play was held up for almost five minutes when objects were thrown onto the pitch and a linesman had to receive treatment after being struck by one of the objects.
It did not end there.
Odhiambo produced a contender for goal of the season with a brilliant individual effort that took the collective breath away from those in attendance.
The starlet gathered a throw in on the near touchline, weaved past Ulinzi defenders and then rounded keeper Francis Ochieng to add another stunning goal to his collection.
The soldiers barely mounted a challenge for the remainder of the night which belonged to Kogallo and their delighted fans.