NAIROBI, Kenya, February 16 – League champions Gor Mahia are through to the first round of the CAF Champions League following their hard fighting 4-2 post match penalties win over Gabonese side US Bitam after the encounter ended on a 1-1 aggregate on Sunday in Gabon.
Bitam beat K’Ogalo 1-0 in the preliminary return leg to see the crunch head to penalties after Gor won by the same margin last weekend in Nairobi.
The hosts got off to the attack from the off to restore parity with their efforts paying off in the 12th minute.
Jared Obwoge, could have sealed victory for Gor in the 20th after Bitam custodian spilled the ball in the box, but wasted the chance with his wide shot.
Captain Jerim Onyango, proved to be the hero of the day after rising to occasion when it mattered most.
The custodian saved two penalties before the match ended to keep his side on top.
Gor went to the breather as Dan Sserunkuma, David Owino and Musa Mohammed were booked for yellow cards.
On resumption Obwoge thought to have given his side an away goal only to see his header tipped over the bar by Bitam keeper after receiving the cross from Godfrey Walusimbi.
Four minutes later, Eric Ochieng’ was pulled out for Shaban Kenga with Innocent Mutiso, coming on for Daniel Onyango.
In the 73rd David ‘Calabar’ Owino, received his matching orders for second booking in what was termed to be protesting to the centre referee.
The hosts were gifted another penalty in the 85th minute but an outstanding Onyango saved his side by blocking the spot kick as the match ended to see the referee direct straight to penalties.
Walusimbi, Rama Salim, Sserunkuma and Haron Shakava scored for K’Ogalo with Onyango saving one.
Gor will now meet Tunisian giants Esperance in the first round on the weekend of March 1.
