Gor Mahia’s Nicholas Kipkurui is joined by teammates in celebrating his goal against Tusker FC in a Kenyan Premier League match at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu on August 31, 2019. PHOTO/Gor Mahia FC/Twitter
NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 31 – Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia started their title defense in staggering fashion, hitting Tusker 5-2 at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu on Saturday with skipper Kenneth Muguna netting a brace.
The brewers had twice come from behind to draw 2-2 courtesy of two sensational goals by Boniface Muchiri, but playing infront of their adoring fans, K’Ogalo were in no mood to drop points on the opening day of the season.
Muchiri had dragged Tusker back twice after going down to goals from Nicholas Kipkurui and Muguna’s penalty before Charles Momanyi’s thumping header took Gor back infront and Muguna completing his brace with a belter of a hit.
Boniface Omondi then put the game to an end with another emphatic goal, chesting down Muguna’s cross to thump beyond Robert Mboya at the stroke of full time.
In other matches played on Saturday, Harambee Stars assistant coach Zedekiah Otieno began his tenure as the new KCB coach in emphatic fashion hitting his former side Sony Sugar 3-0 with goals from Dennis Odhiambo, Stephen Waruru and their former skipper Enock Agwanda.
At the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos, Wazito, making a return to top flight needed a late penalty by Elvis Rupia to draw 1-1 with Nzoia Sugar while new boys Kisumu All Stars lost 2-0 to Ulinzi Stars with Enosh Ochieng grabbing both for the soldiers.
In Kisumu, Defender Gabriel Wandera had a debut to forget for Tusker as he was at fault for both of Gor’s goals. He gave away the first in the opening 45 when he was easily dispossessed by Kipkurui who raced into the box and slammed a shot past Mboya.
He was equally at fault for the second when he needlessly brought down Wellington Ochieng inside the box. Though Mboya saved Muguna’s penalty, the midfielder reacted quickest to the rebound to tuck the ball home.
Tusker FC winger George Odhiambo tries to go past Gor Mahia defender Joash Onyango during their Kenyan Premier League clash at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu on August 31, 2019
Muchiri scored two pieces of beautiful goals in between each. He equalized for the first time in the opening half after being played through by Muchiri, took a few touches at the edge of the box before rifling into the net on the half turn.
Gor took the lead five minutes after the break and seemed to have taken cruise control. Omondi had a shot fly straight to Mboya’s arms after cutting in from the left while in the 56th minute, Lawrence Juma who had struck the upright in the first half saw a volley go just wide from Geoffrey Ochieng cross.
Tusker drew level after 62 minutes when Muchiri struck a beauty of a volley after noticing Gor keeper David Mapinduzi a few yards off his line. Four minutes later, he had a freekick go agonizingly wide.
Football is a game of moments and Tusker learnty that the hard way with Gor scoring three more in the final 25 minutes.
Charles Momanyi headed Gor into the lead when he beat keeper Mboya to Muguna’s freekick before Muguna himself scored his second eight minutes from time with a brilliant shot inside the box from Wellington’s cross.
And Omondi finished off the day brilliantly when he controlled Muguna’s cross at the back post ahead of Rodgers Aloro before striking an unstoppable volley past Mboya.
