NAIROBI, Kenya, January 22, 2025 – Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League champions Gor Mahia beat Sofapaka 2-0 in a midweek encounter at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.
K’Ogalo came into the match with a debt to their fans, who have been upping pressure on interim coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno following their 2-1 loss to Tusker at the same venue on Sunday.
Geoffrey ‘Simiti’ Ochieng’ put them in the ascendancy in the 15th minute, heading into an empty net after Sofapaka keeper Brandon Obiero failed to claim Enock Morrison’s freekick from the left.
It was a goal that spoke volumes of the lethargy of Batoto Ba Mungu’s defence as ‘Simiti’ rose to head in the ball unchallenged.
The 21-time league champions were forced into an early change following an injury to Bryceson Wangai, the winger replaced by Shariff Musa.
Sofapaka had a glorious chance to equalise in the 25th minute, Edward Ondimu shooting wide when he only had Gor keeper Kevin Omondi to beat.
The forward found himself unmarked in the danger area and connected beautifully with a cross from Derrick Mwanzia only for his shot to whistle past the post.
Four minutes later, veteran Humphrey Mieno’s freekick narrowly flew over the upright , with Omondi having to be hawk-eyed in case it dipped into the net.
Controversial second half
Musa’s introduction injected much-needed urgency in K’Ogalo offensive and could have scored the second with a long range shot but for a save by Sofapaka keeper Evans Ouma in the 50th minute.
There was, however, no stopping him in the 70th minute as Musa stepped up to score the second after being put through by Morrison.
However, the goal was bitterly contested by Sofapaka players and the technical bench, claiming that Musa’s shot had not crossed the goal-line.
Nonetheless, centre referee Isaac Hamisi stood his ground and awarded the goal.
Ouma himself was lucky to play the entire match after he handled the ball outside the 18 as he was trying to clear it away from an onrushing Gedeon Bendeka.
Luckily, he only received a yellow card.
The win increases Gor’s tally on the log to 27 points in fourth, one behind third-placed Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and six adrift of leaders Kenya Police.
Meanwhile, Sofapaka are in sixth with 24 points from 17 matches.
