Gor Mahia rob the bank thrice to restore massive league lead

Record FKF Premier League champions Gor Mahia restored their six-point lead on top of the standings after schooling KCB 3-0 at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday, 22 February.

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Having seen arch-rivals AFC Leopards cut their advantage at the summit to three points, K’Ogalo put on their latest classic to put away Robert Matano’s Bankers, securing a sixth successive league victory that will send ominous feelings for their chasers.

After a 20-minute delay occasioned by torrential downfall in Nairobi, Gor Mahia got things rolling in the 24th minute when Enock Morisson smacked a long-range shot past Arnold Monzobo, before Shariff Musa and Samuel Kapen added two goals in double-quick time to cap off a brilliant show from the hosts, who had the game virtually won before halftime.

©Gad Isaac

The win for the men in green extended their hot streak under coach Charles Akonnor, who, in the aftermath of a distasteful defeat to Ingwe in December last year, has overseen his side go unbeaten in their last 11 league matches to take control of the league.

KCB, on the other hand, saw their troubles against Gor Mahia move on to another chapter, as they remain winless against the Kenyan giants since January 2023 - a run of seven matches that has seen them only score once.

The Bankers’ eighth defeat of the season saw them drop to eighth on 29 points, way below Gor Mahia’s tally of 46 at the top.

Match Report

Given their contrasting run of form going into the evening contest, a feel of the inevitable always predicated this fixture, with the question being by what margin would Gor Mahia emerge victors.

That question, albeit on paper, was answered emphatically, as K'Ogalo, despite making two changes to their winning team and made to wait for the clouds and rain to clear, dismissed their opposition to send yet another warning to their perceived challengers.

Kenya Police FC underwhelming campaign continue after barren draw against league debutants

After a rather slow introduction to the almost greasy, wet surface, Akonnor's men turned on the screw shortly after the 20th minute, when they went on an assault that first saw them break the deadlock via a deflected strike from Morisson into the bottom corner.

Four minutes later, an attacking duo as potent as any other other in the league combined to double K'Ogalo's advantage, with Kapen streaming through the right byline to send in a sliding Musa through on goal.

The goal, which was celebrated by the pair on the sidelines, came after a barrage on the KCB goal, which had in the first sequence seen Kapen repelled by Monzobo.

©Gad Isaac

Bearing a visible mark of potential champions, K'Ogalo, after burning their lungs upront, withdrew their arsenal to soak in a brief period of pressure from the Bankers, but even then, showed no signs of cracking.

Instead, their well-known threat off counter-attacks was displayed, as Morisson sent on Musa down the right to tee-up an isolated Kapen for a strong finish past the gloves of Monzobo and into the roof of the net.

©Gad Isaac

43 minutes gone, 3-0 was the scoreline, and reverting to the type that flapped around defending champions Kenya Police last November, lifted and coasted in a comfortable second-half to get the job done with ease.

Even while doing so, the record champions could well have extended their lead, as Kapen shot over from an ambitious distance in the 53rd minute, and Musa, after rounding off the goalkeeper, hit the side-netting from a tight angle with 15 minutes left.

Those misses were not to matter on this significant day, when answers, if asked, were provided big time.

©Gad Isaac