Gor Mahia brush aside Dero FC to book Mozzart Bet Cup round of 32 ticket
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 07.02.26. | 18:34
With the disappointment of the 2025 final still fresh, Gor Mahia stepped onto the pitch seeking nothing short of victory to reignite their domestic cup ambitions.
Gor Mahia produced a composed and disciplined performance to edge past Dero FC 2-0 in a Mozzart Bet Cup round of 64 encounter at Mamboleo Stadium, keeping alive their quest for a domestic cup double this season.
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Goals in either half from Samuel Kapen and Levin Odhiambo proved decisive as K’Ogalo cruised to a comfortable victory, banishing painful memories of last season’s final defeat to defending champions Nairobi United.
With the disappointment of the 2025 final still fresh, Gor Mahia stepped onto the pitch seeking nothing short of victory to reignite their domestic cup ambitions.
Standing in their path was little-known Dero FC, eager to author an upset in pursuit of a maiden Mozzart Bet Cup silverware, setting the stage for a thrilling double-header clash.
The contest began on a cautious note, with both sides taking time to settle.
The opening exchanges were largely cagey, with midfield battles dominating proceedings and clear-cut chances proving scarce.
Gor Mahia registered the first meaningful effort in the 11th minute through Ebenezer Assifuah.
The Ghanaian attacker reacted swiftly to a long ball from Fidel Origa, attempting to loop the onrushing Dero goalkeeper Edgar Abaga.
The youthful custodian dealt with the initial effort, while Assifuah’s acrobatic rebound attempt sailed over the bar.
Moments later, Samuel Kapen tested the Dero backline after skipping past his marker, but his effort from the edge of the area rolled harmlessly out for a goal kick.
Gor Mahia continued to probe, coming close again in the 17th minute when Origa sneaked past the Dero defence to chest down Assifuah’s delivery, only to fire inches wide.
The pressure persisted, and in the 20th minute, Mark Shaban nearly broke the deadlock, weaving past his markers before seeing his goal-bound effort blocked brilliantly by Hesbon Alai.
Dero’s resistance, however, finally crumbled six minutes later.
A loose ball inside the penalty area fell kindly to Kapen, who showed great composure to unleash a fierce strike that beat Abaga, handing Gor Mahia a deserved lead.
K’Ogalo nearly doubled their advantage on the half-hour mark following a swift counter-attack orchestrated by Michael Kibwage and Levin Odhiambo.
Kapen’s cut-back found Shaban in a promising position, but the youngster failed to connect in time as the chance slipped away.
Dero briefly threatened to restore parity five minutes later through Bethwel Onyango, whose effort after being picked out by Meshack Ouma forced a desperate clearance from Kibwage.
Gor Mahia responded immediately, Kapen blasting wide from a Lewis Bandi delivery.
As the half drew to a close, Assifuah and George Amonoo both went close, with Abaga producing a timely intervention to deny the former, before Amonoo narrowly missed the target as Gor Mahia headed into the break holding a slender advantage.
The second half resumed at a similarly measured pace.
Eight minutes after the restart, Assifuah found space inside the Dero defence but fired wide, before Mark Shaban squandered another opportunity moments later after latching onto Odhiambo’s delivery.
Gor Mahia’s dominance eventually paid off two minutes before the hour mark.
A swift counter-attack initiated by Bandi saw Assifuah glide past his markers before delivering a low, driven cross that Odhiambo met with precision, tapping home to double K’Ogalo’s lead.
The Green Army could have extended their advantage further, Kapen misdirecting a close-range header from Assifuah’s looping cross at the hour mark, before the Ghanaian striker was denied again later on by a well-timed block from Nixon Ouma.
Substitute Musa Shariff also tested Abaga late in the game, but the Dero goalkeeper stood firm as Gor Mahia comfortably saw out the encounter.
The victory propels Gor Mahia into the round of 32, reaffirming their status as strong contenders for the Mozzart Bet Cup.
For Dero FC, the dream of elusive cup silverware came to an end once more, despite a spirited showing against more experienced opposition.
