Gor Mahia has climbed to the top of the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) table leapfrogging Posta Rangers after beating Kariobangi Sharks.
K’Ogalo were looking to record their seventh league victory after defeating Muhoroni Youth 2-0 away last weekend.
Boniface Omondi made his return to the starting line-up as Johnathan McKinstry made one change to the team that faced the Western-Kenya-based side.
Kariobangi Sharks came into the match from a 3-1 thrashing at the hands of Nairobi City Stars in their last outing and were looking to end their three-match winless streak.
William Muluya made several changes to the team that faced City Stars with goalkeeper Kevin Ouru among the players making their return to the starting line-up.
Although Gor Mahia dominated possession in the early exchanges, Sharks looked dangerous every time they pushed forward.
K’Ogalo created an early chance when Benson Omala tested Ouru with a strike from inside the area before Austin Odhiambo saw his header expertly saved by the Sharks goalkeeper on 24 minutes.
Kevin Omondi was finally called into action just after the half-hour mark, although Fortune Omoto’s shot from inside of the area on the left was routine for the former Sofapaka glovesman.
Gor Mahia almost hit them on the counter moments later, but Patrick Sibomana flashed his shot just wide of the left post from range after being played through by Ernest Wendo.
The away side continued to enjoy much freedom down the left hand side and minutes later, Sharks would again survive another scare as Boniface Omondi sent his powerful drive into the side netting.
The opening goal arrived at the stroke of halftime when Alpha Onyango sent a thunderbolt from outside the area to give the hosts the lead from a distance.
The goal certainly gave Gor Mahia some much-needed confidence and they took that into the second half as Omala then came within a whisker of doubling his side’s advantage, only for Sharks custodian Ouru to intercept the ball just before deciding to loop it into the back of the net.
Gor were searching for what would turn out to be their seventh win of the league campaign and this saw them press ahead as the Slum Boys needed to be resolute and fend off the danger, while at the same time playing on the counterattack.
In an effort to turn things around, Muluya threw on Donald Ange as they looked to find a way back into the game, but it was K’Ogalo who were immediately back on the attack, and Ouru needed to be sharp as he palmed a free-kick into the path of Omala, who could not find a way past the lanky keeper from close range.
Gor Mahia on the other hand, looked to up the ante with time slowly running out for Sharks by bringing on Patrick Kaddu.
The Ugandan international though, was kept rather quiet as Sharks pressed high in search of an equalizer as the game reached its final stages.
While Kariobangi Sharks pressed forward, the defensive duo of Geoffrey Ochieng and Joshua Onyango held firm as Gor Mahia in bid to earn them three points on the road.
However, the Slum Boys made it 1-1 with eight minutes remaining until the end of the match when Panchol Ghai powered a header into the back of the net after a fine passing move, leveling the game.
Second-half substitute Lawrence Juma restored his side’s lead with a right-footed shot, though the goal was credited to Benson Omala, making it 2-1 for Gor Mahia in the dying minutes of the match. This ensured that his side went to the top of the table for the first time this season.