Gor Mahia head coach Johnathan McKinstry found himself in the spotlight following a thrilling 2-2 draw against Nzoia Sugar in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League match held at Raila Odinga Stadium in Homabay on Saturday.
While the final scoreline might suggest an evenly matched contest, McKinstry’s strategic first-half decisions stole the show.
The match had an explosive start as Joseph Oyugi masterfully set up Barisa Mohamed, who opened the scoring for Nzoia in the 10th minute.
Mohamed, proving to be a menace, added another in the 31st minute, leaving Gor Mahia trailing by two goals.
However, Gor Mahia, stung by Nzoia’s quick-fire goals, wasted no time in regrouping and launching a spirited fightback.
K’Ogalo’s resilience paid off just before the halftime whistle when Patrick Kaddu found the back of the net, narrowing the gap to 1-2.
Intriguingly, it was during this pivotal moment that McKinstry opted to make a bold move, introducing Bryson Wangai and Lawrence Juma into the fray, replacing Patrick Sibomana and Kevin Juma.
“We were really disappointed in the first half—a really poor performance. But we changed things without waiting, as some people say wait until halftime. We said we have to make a change,” McKinstry asserted.
The tactical substitution turned out to be a game-changer. Lawrence Juma, in particular, had an immediate impact, playing a central role in Gor Mahia’s first goal just before the break. The momentum shift was palpable.
“The second half, we really pushed and scored the equalizer. We did a lot better in the second stanza,” McKinstry added, highlighting the effectiveness of his halftime adjustments.
Gor Mahia’s comeback was not without drama, as their lead striker, Benson Omalla, converted from the spot in the 59th minute, leveling the scores at 2-2.
The game concluded with shared spoils, leaving both teams with a point apiece.
While the draw might not have been what Gor Mahia had hoped for, McKinstry remained focused on the bigger picture.
“We are not pleased to take just one point because we want to take all points from teams fighting relegation… but we have to get ready for the next match against Talanta,” he concluded.
Despite the disappointment of not securing a full three points, Gor Mahia maintains their position atop the league table with 28 points from 14 matches.
K’Ogalo hold a three-point lead over second-placed Posta Rangers, who still have a game in hand.