Gor Mahia spice up title race after reclaiming summit with win over Sharks

Record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia kick-started their year with a bang following a 4-1 whitewashing of basement boys Kariobangi Sharks to assume leadership of the FKF Premier League table.

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Goals from Ben Stanley Omondi, Ebenezer Adukwaw, Samuel Kapen and Felix Oluoch were all that K’Ogalo needed as Sharks scored a consolation through Humphrey Aroko.

The match was a contrast of ambitions as while both teams went in search of three points, Gor Mahia were eyeing to ascend to the summit of the log while Sharks were seeking to untangle themselves from the relegation zone.

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K’Ogalo named a strong starting eleven with Harambee Stars midfielder Ben Stanley Omondi handed the creative role as the club began life without former FKF Premier League Player of the Year Austin Odhiambo.

Sharks, on the other hand, were missing Biko Omollo, who is linked with a move to reigning Mozzart Bet Cup champions Nairobi United.

The match started with a high tempo, both teams seemingly keen on getting an early goal through fast attacks, but that could only result in a flurry of corners for K’Ogalo and half-chances for Kariobangi Sharks.

However, the match settled, and both teams exhibited traces of rustiness as possession changed quickly as a result of missed passes.

Sharks earned the match’s first major opportunity in the 12th minute when Markvivan Kesa got to the end of a quick counter-attacking move, but his strike went inches wide past the post.

Gor Mahia made good use of their first opportunity in the 20th minute as Ben Stanley picked a loose ball in the Sharks' area and guided his effort past Collins Omondi in the Sharks' goal.

William Muluya's charges would then be the recipients of the next chance five minutes later, but Victor Ngume shot over the bar after cutting in from the left flank.

The match’s tempo then whittled down even as both teams struggled to assert their dominance in possession, leading to the 40th minute.

Gor Mahia then slowly but surely regained control of the match and made good use of it in the fourth minute of added time when Ebenezer Adukwaw was put through on goal and dribbled past Omondi to slot into the empty net.

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Unfortunately for K’Ogalo, the goal was at the expense of the Ghanaian's hamstring, which led to his withdrawal at the break, and he was replaced by Felix Oluoch.

In the second half, the record 21-time league champions continued with their first-half dominance, controlling the tempo of the game through Enock Morrison.

Gor Mahia’s dominance was short-lived as Sharks took charge of proceedings from the 50th minute with attacks that led to a flurry of corners that were not utilised.

K’Ogalo then got a half chance in the 55th minute when Enock Morrison dribbled to the byline, unleashed a cutback, but Felix Oluoch’s run was late.

From the move, Sharks launched a counterattack with the ball laid to Humphrey Aroko on the left side. The Kenya U20 midfielder cut in and unleashed a ferocious low strike into the bottom right corner of the net to halve the deficit.

Buoyed by the goal, Sharks went on an all-out attack and pinned K’Ogalo into their own half, but the Sylvester Owino-marshalled defense stood tall to wade past the Sharks' spell that went up to the 70th minute.

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In a bid to have fresh legs, Gor Mahia head coach Charles Akonnor made a triple change in the 73rd minute, bringing in Paul Ochuoga, George Amonno and Fidel Origa for Philemon Otieno, Sharif Musa and Alpha Onyango.

The substitutions helped in extinguishing the Sharks' fire as K’Ogalo began seeing more of the ball.

Gor Mahia would once again make good use of their spell in possession when, from an 83rd-minute short corner, Bryton Onyona sent a ball into the box that second-half substitute Samuel Kapen met with an acrobatic strike as K'Ogalo regained their two-goal advantage.

The final nail in Sharks’ coffin came four minutes later when Ochuoga put Oluoch through on goal with the Harambee Stars striker passing the ball into the empty net past the oncoming Omondi to make it 4-1.

With the win, Gor Mahia went to the summit of the league table with 26 points, two more than second-placed Kakamega Homeboyz, while Sharks remain rooted to the bottom with 12 points.