Gor Mahia fans.PHOTOFILE/ Raymond Makhaya
NAIROBI, February 17 – Gor Mahia’s hopes of launching their SportPesa Premier League title defence on a high were thwarted by Chemelil Sugar after settling for a goalless draw at Kisumu’s Moi Stadium on Wednesday.
K’Ogalo who entered the match at the back of a 2-1 home defeat to Madagascans CNaPS in the opening leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round, are yet to win a match in their last three games.
Head coach Frank Nuttall dropped his first choice goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch on disciplinary grounds for skipper Jerim Onyango while Enoch Agwanda and Ronald Omino partnered upfront.
Agwanda who scored Gor’s consolation in Saturday’s Champions League loss, was wasteful in the first-half after fluffing two clear-cut chances that could have seen Gor two goals up.
New signing Francis Kahata provided Agwanda the first opportunity in the second minute when he raced from the left to cut in the cross but the former Sofapaka striker missed the tap in before seeing his 18-yards shot punched away by Chemelil custodian Samuel Odhiambo.
Hillary Echesa provided the first attempt for the sugar millers through a free-kick that went inches wide from the edge of the box.
The champions responded through George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo but still the 2010 Footballer of the Year could not change the difference as his effort was cleared off the line by David Ojwang’.
There was no improvement for Agwanda in the last half as he blazed over another well laid off pass from Kahata, forcing Nuttall to pull him out for Jacob Keli while Eric Ouma came on for Omino.
Chemelil mounted an attack from the right through Willis Ouma but his delivery was well dealt by Musa Mohammed.
Onyango made his first save of the day denying Echesa from a long range thunderbolt as both sides tried to break the deadlock but only in vain.
Gor who sit seventh with one point next face newcomers Posta Rangers on Sunday in a match they need to win to lower pressure from the fans.
GOtv Shield Champions Bandari will be in action on Thursday when they travel to Nairobi City Stars at Nyayi National Stadium.
The Dockers lost 2-0 in their CAF Confederations Cup preliminary round first-leg away to DRC’s St. Eloi Lupopo.
