Gor Mahia left-back Stephen Otieno close on Western Stima’s-Brian Owuor.PHOTO/Timothy Olobulu
NAIROBI, April 18- Two quick-fire second half goals from Joseph Waruinge earned Gor Mahia’s junior side a 2-0 win over defending champions Western Stima in their second Group A match of the KPL Under-20 tournament at the Camp Toyoyo grounds in Jericho.
After a barren first half with both sides not giving much in attack, the game exploded to a full throttle contest in the second period.
Inside the first minute of the half, Waruinge tapped home the opener after racing into the box to meet a low cross from Wilson Mwendwa on the left.
Stima had a chance to immediately get back into the game from the restart but Isiah Oguru failed to convert after meeting a cross from the right unmarked inside the box.
Four minutes after opening the scoring, Gor had their second chance but this time the Stima keeper punched Mwendwa’s cross on Waruinge’s path.
Stima were unrelenting in their fight despite suffering a sudden dip and they engaged on attacking gear to salvage their pride as defending champions.
Two substitutes combined in an attempt to cut the lead with Brian Owuor shooting meekly from close range after Eric Oteino’s donkey work had gifted him the ball at the edge of the box.
On the other end, Gor had a chance off the break but Brian Musa shot straight to the keeper after being picked out by another of Mwendwa’s deliveries.
Gor brought in striker Dominic Amadadi as they sought to cement their lead but Stima’s backline improved from the opening minute blunders.
They kept the pressure on and they were rewarded with a goal in the 83rd minute when Douglas Oluma scored after being put through by Owuor from a quickly executed counter attack.
The goal gave the defending champions some belief they could get something from the match and kept on attacking in the Gor 18-yard area.
However, a combination of poor finishing and some resolute defense from the K’Ogalo defense ensured the score remained the same till the final whistle.
Western Stima’s title defense comes under huge doubt with the loss coming hot on the heels of their opening day draw with Sofapaka and they now need to beat AFC Leopards in their final group match to revive quarter final hopes.
In the earlier matches, Chemelil Sugar and Tusker FC played to a 1-1 draw in a Group B encounter.
Chemelil’s Mustafa Adebayo scored his second goal of the tournament in the 26th minute to cancel out Humphrey Imbali’s 10th minute opener.
Both sides drew their opening group matches and the pool remains open heading into the final matches.
