Gor Mahia maintained their unbeaten run in the FKF Premier League this season when Austin Odhiambo’s freekick gave them a 1-0 win over Tusker FC in a high stakes match.
K’Ogalo went ahead after 21 minutes when Odhiambo scored via a brilliant freekick and it was no way back for Tusker against a team that had won their previous three goals with a 1-0 score.
Tusker kept probing with Mike Oduor connecting well with Boniface Onyango’s cross on the half volley but Gor Mahia goalkeeper Kevin Omondi was equal to the task.
After a first half that had few chances, Tusker started well the second one, with Michael Kibwge coming close with a header off Levin Opiyo’s corner but Gor Mahia responded with a shot from Chris Ochieng that hit the crossbar.
Tusker should have equalised after 63 minutes when Opiyo floated in a cross from the left that flew across the face of goal, missing the bottom left corner by inches.
Robert Matano’s men kept probing and five minutes later, Ibrahim Joshua stole the ball off a Gor Mahia defender and went for a first-time shot which flew inches wide.
Shafan Siwa then did well on the right, cutting back a cross into the area, which was collected by Joshua but it was blocked by the Gor defence while K’Ogalo’s final attack of note came from substitute and new acquisition Shariff Musa who fired a tame effort.
Victory extended Gor Mahia’s unbeaten run to 19 matches while taking them to 43 points, 10 ahead of second-placed Nairobi City Stars who face AFC Leopards on Sunday, and 12 more than Tusker.
It was also the first time in over six years that Gor were doing the double over Tusker, who they beat 1-0 in October, with the win putting an end to the Brewers’ eight-match unbeaten run that included five straight wins prior to Saturday’s encounter.
Defeat is blow to Tusker’s title ambitions as they had a chance to narrow the gap to six points but now have to claw back 12 to close in on Gor Mahia.