Gor Mahia squad before their game against Ulinzi Stars - Photo Courtesy Gor Mahia Media.
Gor Mahia stand-in coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno has praised his players for securing a 3-0 victory against Ulinzi Stars in an FKF Premier League fixture at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Wednesday.
The reigning champions went into the fixture smarting from a 1-0 defeat against Kenya Police FC in their last assignment. However, they looked the most dangerous side from the onset and should have taken the lead when man of the match Austin Odhiambo missed from a one-on-one situation.
However, they broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute when Levin Joseph’s brilliant delivery found Samuel Kapen in the area to score. The goal rejuvenated K’Ogalo, who continued to attack for more.
Rooney Onyango doubled their lead in 45th minute after a good delivery from Austin Odhiambo to help the champions go into the half-time break with a healthy 2-0 lead. At the start of the second period, Onyango should have made it 3-0 but his right-footed effort from outside the box, bounced off the post for a goal-kick.
Gor Mahia wrapped up the maximum points in the 65th minute when Austin Odhiambo scored from the penalty spot after he was fouled by an Ulinzi defender.
“It was a good but a tough game, we won by three goals but Ulinzi also had some moments in the game, we had prepared well, I think after the loss against Police, we had no option but to win this match, I am happy for the boys they came in, controlled the game tactically, technically, physically and mentally and that is why we won,” Otieno told Pan-Africa Football.
“It was a very important win, it was a catch up fixture, it only Police and us who played and now we know where we are. The team was under pressure, not only myself, and I say congratulations to the boys because they came out of the pressure very, and controlled the game from the first to the final whistle.”
The win enabled Gor Mahia to move one place up to the fifth on the 18-team league table with 21 points from 13 matches. They have managed six wins, three draws and suffered four defeats.
Comments