Gor Mahia juggernaut thunder past cash strapped Wazito

Ten-man Gor Mahia extended their long running dominance over upstart Wazito with a late 1-0 victory courtesy of Jules Ulimwengu in a Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) clash staged at the Utalii Grounds.

Samuel Onyango was handed his marching orders in stoppage time as Jules Ulimwengu rose from the bench to save Gor Mahia as the tie was drab from the opening 80 minutes.

There was a bit of surprise on the team sheets presented with Kenneth Muguna missing from the squad after picking up a sheen injury in the 1-0 win over Vihiga United last time out while Wazito top scorer Kevin Kimani rested for the former Gor Mahia speedy winger Boniface Omondi.

Gor Mahia coach Manuel Vaz Pinto had some kind words for Tito Okello despite missing sitter in the game but admitted that they are still alive in the title race.

"In this type of game when you get an opportunity you need to score, Okello created the situation but he missed which happens in football,"

"I was impressed with the boys because the intensity was high especially after playing on Thursday but I think we deserve the win. I think we are still alive in the title race but what is important is the players believe in our philosophy," said Pinto.

Pinto's counterpart Francis Kimanzi highlighted the tight nature of the game and with Wazito sitting out of the FKF Cup he will maximise the time righting his wrongs.

"I thank the boys because it was not an easy match, the team that would get a goal in this game would make it hard for the other to come back and we were not in the right mind set after going down,"

"I will use the short break we'll, the other breaks we could not do much in training and we have rectified what we think was wrong but we still have a lot to do because today we made some mistakes," said Kimanzi.

The game was off to a drab start as both teams exercised caution with the aim of reading each other tactics before executing their game plan as the midfield battle was fiercely fought between both sets of teams.

The first action of the game arrived in the 18th minutes when Clifton Miheso burst with speed and left Rooney Onyango for dead but the former Gusii United right back recovered and in a bid to reclaim the ball clipped the former AFC Leopards winger but the referee waves K'Ogalo's penalty shout away.

Fidel Origa and Ernest Wendo traded yellow cards for fouls on Miheso and Amos Asembeka respectively with the temperature of the tie rising with each passing tackle.

Gor Mahia survived by the skin of their teeth at the stroke of the half hour mark as their forwards line up to take shots at the K'Ogalo goal mouth. Boniface Omondi stung the palms of Gad Mathews while Isuza's shot was blocked by Shakava while Asembeka watched his shot cannoned on off Andrew Juma.

Wazito would have been made to rue their missed chance three minutes later as Philemon Otieno feed his opposite full back Geoffrey Ochieng who released a thunderbolt that forced Levis Opiyo into a spectacular save as the first half was brought to a close.

Kimani elected to throw in Kevin Kimani for the off colour Boniface Omondi as Gor Mahia came into the closing half guns blazing as they camped into the Wazito half.

Gor Mahia came close in the 51st minute when Philemon Otieno whipped in a cross from the right flank that was headed on goal by Okello but Opiyo in goal back peddled to tip the ball over the ball.

Opiyo had a hand mouth moment in the 53rd minute when he cheaply ceded possession to Okelo inside the box but the Ugandan import who joined From Vipers missed a sitter with a gaping goal ahead of him.

Manuel Vaz Pinto dug into his bench in the 78th minute after witnessing an eyesore, bringing in Jules Ulimwengu, Sydney Ochieng and John Macharia for Clifton Miheso, Alpha Onyango and Abdoul Karim.

The chances paid dividends in the 82nd minute when Samuel Onyango who was brought in for Tito Okello early in the second half threaded in a neat through ball to Ulimwegu who non chalatly chipped the ball over the hapless Opiyo.

The Burundian import was making his first appearance after leaving mandatory quarantine following his trip to his native country due to the suspension of sporting activities in the country.

Samuel Onyango was unfortunate to be sent for an early shower in the 93rd minute for a foul on Musa Masika as he was previously on a yellow card.

Gor Mahia withered the late Wazito storm to secure maximum points to make it five consecutive league wins.