Gor Mahia were forced to come from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw against Nzoia Sugar in an FKF Premier League match at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay on Saturday.
K’Ogalo went into the match looking to preserve their unbeaten start to the season but they received a rude awakening from second-from-bottom Nzoia who took a ninth-minute lead through Mohamed Barisa.
Barisa connected well with Joseph Oyugi’s pass to silence the partisan crowd in Homa Bay.
The goal rattled K’Ogalo who woke up from their early slumber with full-backs Geoffrey Ochieng and Paul Ochuoga making forward runs to support the attack.
It yielded a couple of corners and Benson Omala should have equalised in the 18th minute but his attempt was blocked.
However, it was Nzoia who were celebrating the second goal when Barisa doubled the lead on the half-hour mark.
Two more corners went Gor Mahia’s way after the goal with Omala coming close again before Patrick Kaddu pulled a goal back on the stroke of halftime for a 2-1 score line at the break.
Gor Mahia head coach Johnathan McKinstry then made a couple of changes in a bid to add impetus to his side with Bryson Wangai and Lawrence Juma coming in for Patrick Sibomana and Kevin Juma.
Twelve minutes into the second half, Austin Odhiambo was withdrawn for Boniface Omondi, and a minute later, K’Ogalo won a penalty.
Omala stepped up to score his eighth goal of the season and draw Gor Mahia level to the relief of the home supporters.
K’Ogalo kept attacking in a bid to find the winner but it was not forthcoming as Nzoia forced a share of the spoils.
The draw ends Gor Mahia’s two-match winning spell but preserves their position at the top of the table where they now have 28 points, three ahead of second-placed Posta Rangers who play on Sunday.
Nzoia, meanwhile, remain 17th on the 18-team table with 10 points, two more than bottom-placed Sofapaka who will also be in action on Sunday.