Gor Mahia forward Jacques Tuyisenge celebrating after scoring the lone goal against Ushuru FC in the KPL Top 8.PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
NAIROBI, Kenya May 2- Rwandese forward Jacques Tuyisenge scored a controversial goal as defending champions Gor Mahia squeezed into the KPL Top 8 semi-final following their 1-0 win over debutants Ushuru FC on Monday at Nyayo National Stadium.
In the early kick-off, Muhoroni Youth thrashed Sofapaka 3-0 to sail into their first ever last four.
The semi-final that will be played in two legs will see Gor renew their rivalry with two-time champions Tusker FC while Muhoroni take on Ulinzi Stars.
In the last match of the day, Gor put up a spirited first half performance and had glorious opportunities to break the deadlock.
As early as in the 11th minute, K’Ogalo appealed for a penalty after David Otieno appeared to have handled inside the box from a Gorge Odhiambo cross from the right but the referee Israel Mpaima waved play on.
Ushuru had a great chance to open the scores three minutes later from a quickly executed counter attack but Dennis Wafula could not beat Gor keeper Jerim Onyango with the custodian coming out with a decent save off his line.
Gor continued to dictate the tempo of the match and red-hot Tuyisenge had a header sail over the bar in the 23rd minute from Odhiambo’s cross from the left.
Two minutes later, Khalid Aucho had a brilliant effort from a freekick hit the crossbar.
On the half hour mark, the Ugandan midfielder came close with another freekick from the top of the area, but it whisked inches wide with Ushuru keeper Shabaan Odhoji left rooted to his spot.
Odhiambo should have done better with another chance nine minutes from the break but he glanced his header wide from a Godfrey Walusimbi corner.
Gor Mahia defender Karim Nizigiyimana in action against Ushuru FC.PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
Gor put up the same kind of pressure heading into the second half and they were rewarded 13 minutes from time when Tuyisenge scored his fifth goal for Gor.
Tuyisenge finished simply from inside the box after being teed up by defender Jackson Saleh who was lurking at the far post from an Erick Ouma deep cross even though replays from the live televised match showed four Gor players were off-side.
This led to Ushuru players protesting the goal but the referee could hear non of their complains.
Tuyisenge had a flurry of two chances in quick succession, first Odhoji saving his effort one-on-one in the 63rd minute after picking up a quickly taken throw in by Enock Agwanda.
Two minutes later, the striker’s effort went agonizingly wide after connecting first time to a decent long pass from left back Ouma.
Being a goal down, Ushuru upped their attacking play and in the 68th minute, Aziz Okaka saw his effort roll off the bar after a spirited run on the left, beating his markers with pace.
Gor head coach Jose Marcelo Ferreira introduced Abouba Sibomana with 15 minutes left with the Rwandese slotting at left back while Erick Ouma stepped up, a structure that would strengthen their defensive play.
