Gor Mahia displayed composure and quality at key moments to earn a 2–0 victory over Mathare United in a tightly contested midweek clash at Kasarani Stadium, extending their unbeaten run and moving within a point of the league leaders with a game in hand.
The game began with Gor Mahia quickly settling into rhythm, controlling possession and dictating the tempo. Within the opening ten minutes, the champions looked sharp and confident, though early efforts from Shariff Musa and Patrice Esombe narrowly missed the target.
In the 13th minute, Musa beat Mathare defender Imbuye on the left and delivered a teasing cross that Esombe guided inches wide, the first of several close calls in a first half that saw Gor dominate but fail to convert.
Mathare, buoyed by their weekend win over Shabana, had flashes of danger on the break. Kevin Ouru thought he had put the Slum Boys ahead in the 26th minute only for the assistant referee’s flag to rule it offside. Elli Asieche then slipped a clever ball to Fidel, but the latter’s poor first touch wasted the opening. Gor Mahia continued to press, with Esombe again coming close in the 42nd minute as his low drive whistled past the upright. The teams went into the break goalless, though Gor looked the likelier to score.
The breakthrough came just three minutes after the restart. Paul Ochuoga whipped in a precise cross from the left, and Musa Shariff ghosted in at the back post to tap home the opener. Mathare’s keeper Ouru kept them in the game soon after, producing a fine trailing-leg save to deny substitute Felix Oluoch from close range.
Mathare pushed back with a series of changes, bringing on Kinyanjui and Masika, the latter forcing Bryne Omondi into a fingertip save from distance in the 83rd minute. Okoth also came close with a glancing header that was heroically tipped away. But Gor sealed it in stoppage time through a moment of brilliance – substitutes Ben Stanley Omondi and Bryson Wangai combined beautifully, with the latter cutting in from a tight angle to score a stunning solo goal that killed the contest.
The 2–0 win leaves Gor Mahia firmly in contention near the top as they continue to build momentum under coach Charles Akonnor.
Elsewhere, Posta Rangers squandered a 2–0 halftime lead to draw 2–2 with Murang’a Seal at Kasarani Annex. Caleb Olilo’s dazzling solo strike and Faustine Ojiambo’s header put Rangers in control, but second-half goals from Lucas Maina and Joe Withera earned Seal a spirited comeback point.
