Gor Mahia cede valuable ground against City Stars

Gor Mahia endured a frustrating Sunday afternoon at the Moi International Sports Centre as a resolute Nairobi City Stars held them to a barren draw in a match that was again marred by fans riots at the end.

With their nearest rivals Thika United and AFC Leopards having won their respective matches on Saturday the results mean that, K’Ogalo are now just six points clear at the top.

Whether it was bad luck or simply poor finishing, Gor Mahia will only blame themselves to blame for picking just one point in a match they could have won by at least three goals.

The absence of Rama Salim was telling with Paul Kiongera and makeshift strike partner Kevin Omondi not the most potent of striking forces. Gor were twice denied by the crossbar and Omondi’s profligacy didn’t help matters. The midfielder-turned-striker was guilty of wasting a glut of glorious chances.

The most glaring come in the 68th minute when Kiongera threaded an exquisite through ball that Omondi picked in his stride, rounded the onrushing Ronny Kagunzi, only to blast wide with a yawning goalmouth at his mercy.

Three minutes later, Omondi’s scorching free kick was tipped against the crossbar by Kagunzi but no one reacted fast enough to capitalize on the rebound with City Stars defenders scampering to clear their lines.

City Stars weathered early storm

Midway through the first period, enterprising midfielder Eric Ochieng also saw his shot from outside the box cannoning off the crossbar as K’Ogalo threatened to overwhelm City Stars.

But after weathering the early storm and Gor increasingly looking short of ideas, City Stars gained composure and occasionally had Gor on the back foot as the match played itself to a scoreless draw.

This was Gor’s second consecutive barren draw after they recorded a similar result mid-week against defending champions Tusker at the same venue.

However, K’Ogalo remain on top with 37 points ahead of Thika United (31 points) and AFC Leopards (30 points.

In Chemelil, Tusker had their go-to-man Jesse Were to thank as they scored a 1-0 victory over hosts Chemelil Sugar.

Were’s strike at the half hour mark ended his prolonged goal drought. This was the former Mathare United marksman’s twelfth goal of the season, the highest number of goals scored by any player this season. Tusker have now leapt three place up the table to fifth with 28 points.

In Mombasa, Bandari ended their three-match losing streak with a 1-0 win over bottom-placed Karuturi Sports. At Kakamega’s Bukhungu Stadium there was nothing to separate hosts Western Stima from Sony Sugar. Nil-nil it ended.